No other word to decribe Danes and Swedes

I'd say famous. Did you see that match? I guess you watched your own team...

You don't realize how hard it is for Italy because you haven't seen the game.

You haven't seen the ugly fault on Cassano in the penalty area that hasn't been whistled. And worst than everything, you haven't seen Cassano's header... and his joy when he ran to celebrate it with italian substitutes who told him that they've been so courageous during 90 minutes for nothing.

You haven't seen how it has broken his heart... hearing that he fought so fiercely... thinking it was still possible... and realized at the minute of the liberation that it was simply for nothing. You can't imagine how hard it is to learn you've been so brave for nothing. And you can say everything you want but that's unfair. Yes. It is unfair to fight so much and then learn that you could have played poker instead it was the same.

On the other side, I've seen Danes and Swedes who didn't play anymore after the 2-2. What a shame. And there was that danish supporter with a board where was written : "2-2 = Nordic Victory, Ciao Italy"

Don't tell me that danish goalie didn't drop the ball on purpose, the swedish equalizer at 2-2 was due to the poorest defense I've never seen since Desailly letting Prso striking in France-Croatia. :(

talk about bitter, it wasn't a fix, also show me an Italian team who wouldn't kick the ball around for 90 , yes 90 seconds rather than risk defeat

It's Italy's fault for not beating either the Swedes or the Danes.

If you haven't seen Sweden-Denmark do that before thinking about accusing them of anything like that. It was a nice game, great offensive football for most of the time. Much better than almost all games in this EURO, except for maybe Czech Republic-Holland, but only in terms of entertainment, Denmark and Sweden were also quite good in the defence.
Except for the last minute, of course...

Jeez, give me a break..

No matter how the game had been played, a 2-2 result would allways cause this. I just hope that unlike the real robbery in Korea, this won't mask the idiocies of the real responsible: Trapattoni.

Something to remember is that even a 1-1 draw would have seen Italy go out since they only won by one goal...

We couldn't imagine worst scenario for Italy. No matter how much Sweden and Denmark are good, Italy couldn't expect worst than what happened in 2000, and they couldn't expect worst than what happened in 2004.

I'm no fan of Italy... and quite glad they've lost in 2000 since I'm French. :D
However, I can't help myself to imagine what Italian supporters have lived tonight.

This being said, Sweden and Denmark deserved to qualify and congratulations to them. :)

However, I can't help myself to imagine what Italian supporters have lived tonight.

It can't be great but any team that goes out in the knockout stage will have disappointed fans..

It can't be great but any team that goes out in the knockout stage will have disappointed fans..Yeah but not this way... Well anyway, okay I've got it... you don't want to understand. :)

Yeah but not this way... Well anyway, okay I've got it... you don't want to understand. :)

I realise it must be awful but every team has their disappointments... For Cassano it may have been crueller than normal since he had no idea of the other result when he scored but the actuall result is perhaps no worse than losing a champions league final by conceding 2 goals in the final minute or perhaps in any situation where 2 goals are conceded in the final minutes...

I'm reading the game report at Gazzetta dello Sport, and they say it is not fair to accuse the danes and swedes of anything and it is themselves they have to blame. When the frustration is still very fresh, it's a nice atitude.

Anyway, Denmark and Sweden were really the two best teams of the group. :)

Actually, the situation may be more problematic in the group D since the Netherlands proved they were better than Germany and they could still not go through. But as you will tell me, and you will be right, they shouldn't have deuced against Germany and lost against Czech Republic. ;)

maybe infamous, but they played very well, and is good to have some diffrent types of football is this tournament ;)

Another case of too little too late.

France vs Italy : 2-1
Euro 2000 final. ;)

Exactly... Fortunately these events don't happen that often and they don't always end up mattering all that much...

Originally posted by Marla_Singer
since the Netherlands proved they were better than Germany
How is drawing 1-1 proving you're better?

How is drawing 1-1 proving your better?Actually, I didn't want to write "better". I wanted to say "nicer to watch" but I couldn't find a way to put it well in the sentence so I've chosen the easy way in being shorter and more approximative. :D

Ah. Well, Germany certainly proved that watching paint dry can be more exciting than watching football.

Actually, I didn't want to write "better". I wanted to say "nicer to watch" but I couldn't find a way to put it well in the sentence so I've chosen the easy way in being shorter and more approximative. :D
In the game against Germany they didn't prove that either.
Ah. Well, Germany certainly proved that watching paint dry can be more exciting than watching football.
You surely mean England and France. ;)

Has paint become more exciting recently?

In the game against Germany they didn't prove that either.

You surely mean England and France. ;)
Yeah, I hate those boring 4-2s.

While suggesting the whole Denmark-Sweden games was a fix is obviously off-base, the behaviour in the last minute plus injury time was pretty appalling. I have little doubt that they would have played the same way if the goal for 2-2 had come with 5 or 10 minutes left.

As France and Italy have shown, it is quite possible to score a winning goal in injury time - the fact that neither Sweden or Denmark made any attempt to do so is, IMHO, very poor sportsmanship, and should result in a censure or fine by UEFA.

While suggesting the whole Denmark-Sweden games was a fix is obviously off-base, the behaviour in the last minute plus injury time was pretty appalling. I have little doubt that they would have played the same way if the goal for 2-2 had come with 5 or 10 minutes left.

As France and Italy have shown, it is quite possible to score a winning goal in injury time - the fact that neither Sweden or Denmark made any attempt to do so is, IMHO, very poor sportsmanship, and should result in a censure or fine by UEFA.

==

Yea Sure, dont think thats going to happen and why should it?
Like any other teams especially Italy would have done anything different.

Yeah, I hate those boring 4-2s.

Wasn't it 2-1...

While suggesting the whole Denmark-Sweden games was a fix is obviously off-base, the behaviour in the last minute plus injury time was pretty appalling. I have little doubt that they would have played the same way if the goal for 2-2 had come with 5 or 10 minutes left.

As France and Italy have shown, it is quite possible to score a winning goal in injury time - the fact that neither Sweden or Denmark made any attempt to do so is, IMHO, very poor sportsmanship, and should result in a censure or fine by UEFA.

With 5 minutes left, I would agree with you.
With a minute and a half of extra time left I do not.

So we didn't press the last minute and a half this one time. Big deal.
Tell me Italy would've attacked in our place and I will laugh hard at your expense. This from a team that backs home early in the game to protect a 1-0 lead.

It would be nice though if the rules was made in a way that these situations didn't happen, or at least were very infrequent.

When Denmark were winning 2-1 they were still coming forward and attacking, and had shots to try to get the third goal, so there's no way this was a stitch up. After Sweden's second goal both teams sat back but it was nothing like the West Germany v Austria match in 1982 when the 2 teams collaborated to achieve a 1-0 that disqualified Algeria.

It's tough on Italy, but even then they knew before the match that they needed to win by 2 clear goals to give themselves the best chance of going through. Alright it didn't matter, but they didn't even achieve what they could to improve their chances of going through.

And with the players they've got as well, they've only got themselves to blame. Buffon, Nesta, Vieri, Del Piero: 4 of the world's very best players, they'd get into any international team in the world. And they still couldn't win against either Denmark or Sweden, and only a last minute winner against Bulgaria.

While suggesting the whole Denmark-Sweden games was a fix is obviously off-base, the behaviour in the last minute plus injury time was pretty appalling. I have little doubt that they would have played the same way if the goal for 2-2 had come with 5 or 10 minutes left.

As France and Italy have shown, it is quite possible to score a winning goal in injury time - the fact that neither Sweden or Denmark made any attempt to do so is, IMHO, very poor sportsmanship, and should result in a censure or fine by UEFA.
And another reply. Ireland and Holland did this for considerably longer in the 1990 WC. Just to clarify my thinking:
Collusion before a match to fix a certain scoreline - wrong.
Settling for a certain scoreline that has occured during a match that benefits both teams - fine.

Whatever system you come up with, there will always be instances like this, where 2 teams can collude for their mutual benefit in a final match. If you want to avoid it - win all your games :)

Would it be infamous for the Czechs to field a second 11 against Germany tonight, allowing their players to rest and avoid bookings for the quarter finals, even if this gifted second place in the group to Germany?

Whatever system you come up with, there will always be instances like this, where 2 teams can collude for their mutual benefit in a final match. If you want to avoid it - win all your games :)

I disagree with this. In a 4-team group, with final matches taking place simultaneously, and the first deciding factor between teams level on points goal difference, then the situation should not arise.
It only arose here because of the results between the teams rule taking precedence over goal difference. IMHO a good reason to change back.

What if Denmark had also beaten Bulgaria 5-0? Italy would have had to top this score, which, with 20 minutes left, looked unlikely in the extreme. But I agree with what you're saying about your method preventing completely foregone conclusions.

On the other hand, it would be a bit galling to go out to a team that you've beaten, if you're level on points. How about, if teams are level, it goes to results between those teams, then total goal difference, total goals scored, etc. ?

When Denmark were winning 2-1 they were still coming forward and attacking, and had shots to try to get the third goal, so there's no way this was a stitch up. After Sweden's second goal both teams sat back but it was nothing like the West Germany v Austria match in 1982 when the 2 teams collaborated to achieve a 1-0 that disqualified Algeria.
Right, and the Danish team was considerably less exuberant when the match was over. Conceding first place in the group to Sweden wasn't really to their liking. The first thing Jon Dahl Tomasson told the reporters afterwards was how displeased he was that Sweden would go through. In his opinion Sweden plays boring football, and Italy was more deserving. There isn't that much love lost between the Danish and Swedish teams.
And still the Italians seem to mainly blame Denmark? The Danish consulate in Milan has had eggs thrown at it. The Danish foreign ministry has found it wise to issue a declaration stating that it is not dangerous for Danes to visit Italy. Really, it isn't. ;)
The Austria-West Germany debacle had the Austrians scoring 1-0 in the 10th minute of the first period. From then on they mostly sat.:)

Doesn't Jon Dahl Tomasson play in Italy?

Doesn't Jon Dahl Tomasson play in Italy?

yea he plays for Ac Milan

Just as a quick note in reply to some of the comments above.

I don't see it as particularly relevant whether Italy would have done the same or not - it's still bad sportsmanship. Similarly, while I agree there have been worse examples of this sort of thing in the past (with Germany - Austria being the absolute nadir), I don't see why that would excuse the behaviour. And, yes, Italy perhaps should have done better in their previous games and have many world class players - but again, I don't see that this means the behaviour at the end of the Sweden - Denmark game is acceptable.

I think UEFA &/or FIFA should indicate that teams should show a continued willingness to take a full and active part in the game, and that reducing the last couple of minutes of a game to a laughing stock is not in line with the ethos they wish to promote in the game.

-----------
P.S. I agree with Evertonian on this being a consequence of the tiebreaker rule - the cirucumstances to encourage this would be less likely to occur with goal difference in all games occurring higher up the tiebreaking list.

Again, I ask, what if the Czechs don't try to play tonight? Based on previous results, they know what they need to do to qualify (nothing). Letting their opponents win is to their benefit (it sends a better potential opponent in the final (Holland) home), and, obviously, to Germany's benefit too.

Will there be the same high dudgeon here if Nedved and co don't bust a gut tonight?

Again, I ask, what if the Czechs don't try to play tonight? Based on previous results, they know what they need to do to qualify (nothing). Letting their opponents win is to their benefit (it sends a better potential opponent in the final (Holland) home), and, obviously, to Germany's benefit too.

Will there be the same high dudgeon here if Nedved and co don't bust a gut tonight?


Nedved isn't playing tonight... :lol:

It's inherent to group systems and will not be eradicated. At least it was an entertaining match. I remember Holland - Ireland at WC90, it was already boring and then the last 15 minutes they really didn't do anything anymore on the field. For this disgrace Holland deservingly got beaten in the 1/8 finals by Germany (with the famous incident between the current coaches of Germany and Barça).

It's inherent to group systems and will not be eradicated.

Yep, it doesn't particularily matter about how its decided overall as however you do it there are always going to be situations like tonight where one team has already qualified or a team has already gone out like Russia and Bulgaria and if they then lose convincingly people will complain because their team ma have gone out simply because of how the fixtures were drawn...

Well it is certainly true that situations where a team has got through (like the Czecks tonight) or a team has gone out (like Bulgaria yesterday) will always arise. However this is slightly different to the Sweden v Denmark, or West Germany v Austria situations. Czecks and Bulgaria both had nothing to lose, whereas Sweden or Denmark had a lot to lose if they didn't get the right result.

Perhaps but both circumstances result in an unfair situation and it is down to the teams in those positions as to whether they will still try to get a result or roll over and let the other team get the necessary victory...

I know if my team was already sure to be through, I would rest my "stars"
and let my subs have a go ;) , you never know who might turn an ankle or
pull a muscle. You might also find a diamond in the rough :scan: .

Which is fair enough but annoying for the other team if they end up going out because your reserves fail to win... Of course sometimes those reserves can win especially if they are playing Germany...