From match to match, the "Portuguese" Euro is acquiring, it seems, the outlines that we expected from it — uncompromising struggle in every match from the referee's starting whistle to the last, spectacular and effective combinations, fast attacks and counterattacks in response, phenomenal saves by goalkeepers... All of the above are elements of the picture titled "Italy vs Denmark." The only thing it lacked was one thing — converted chances... but despite this shortcoming, I am sure hardly anyone complained of boredom while watching the waves of attack from the "Squadra Azzurra" or the menacing scowl of the "red-and-whites"
The fact that almost everyone considered the Italians the favorites of the match probably only added inspiration to their opponents. From the very first minutes, the goalkeeper of Turin's "Juventus," Gianluigi Buffon, understood that the opponents' forwards would by no means give him an easy life.
Incidentally, already in the 4th minute of the game, the Spanish referee Mejuto González could calmly have pointed to the penalty spot near the goal of Giovanni Trapattoni's team, but in Cannavaro's foul against Jon Dahl Tomasson he did not discern sufficient reason for this.
I will note that, being under the initial pressure of the Danish counterparts, the Apennine landing force could only use counterattacks, and they nearly brought success. But surprisingly confident play at the last line by Thomas Sørensen crossed out all the Italians' attempts to reach their goal. Sørensen that evening blocked all shots in his direction — both free kicks taken by Francesco Totti, and unexpected strikes by Del Piero, and Zambrotta's dash, and the ball's flight toward the crossbar where Vieri was sending it.
On the opposite side of the emerald pitch, Buffon was also demonstrating his class. He not only nullified the efforts of Tomasson, who had a chance to distinguish himself at the end of the first half, but also "delivered" two showcase saves after a powerful shot by Andriy Shevchenko's teammate in Milan's attack and the subsequent shot by Rommedahl from an acute angle. And already in the 84th minute, Buffon once again proved his mastery when Daniel Jensen sent the "leather one" on a date with him, but Gianluigi played well with his fists.
And this, without exaggeration, football spectacle ended with a foul by Totti. The latter, having harshly brought down Henriksen, nearly received a red card "as a gift," but the referee, who had managed to hand out 5 yellow cards before that, contented himself with merely showing the sixth yellow slip.
Italy — Bulgaria — 0:0 Italy national team: Buffon, Panucci, Cannavaro, Nesta, Zambrotta, Zanetti (Gattuso, 58), Camoranesi (Fiore, 68), Perrotta, Del Piero (Cassano, 64), Totti, Vieri Denmark national team: Sørensen, Helveg, Henriksen, Laursen, N. Jensen, Jørgensen (Pérez, 72), D. Jensen, Poulsen (Priske, 78), Rommedahl, Tomasson, Sand (K. Jensen, 69) Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto González (Spain) Guimarães. "Afonso Henriques" Stadium. 29,595 spectators.