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Sweden show true grit in Italy draw

Giovanni Trapattoni's side require a comprehensive victory over Bulgaria to guarantee qualification
Giovanni Trapattoni's side require a comprehensive victory over Bulgaria to guarantee qualification

A spectacular late equaliser by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Sweden a 1-1 draw with Italy and put his team firmly in the driving seat for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ibrahimovic scored in a goalmouth scramble in the 85th minute, hooking the ball over his shoulder with the outside of his right foot.

Italy had taken the lead after 37 minutes with a header from 21-year-old Antonio Cassano and outplayed a determined Sweden team for long periods of an absorbing match.

Sweden next meet Scandinavian rivals Denmark in their final match with both teams on four points with Italy, who have two points, facing an easier match against eliminated Bulgaria.

Only some inspired goalkeeping from former Juventus youngster Andreas Isaksson in the Swedish goal had prevented Italy from extending their lead.

Totti, banned by UEFA for three matches for spitting and booed by the Swedish fans when his image was flashed on the stadium TV screen, could only watch from the stands.

He can return if they reach the semi-finals, although Italy played well enough without him compared to their lacklustre display against Denmark in their opening match.

Italy attacked for most of a pulsating first half and had five goal attempts from Alessandro Del Piero and Christian Vieri before breaking the deadlock eight minutes before the break.

Christian Panucci, who had an excellent match marauding down the left flank, created the goal with a left-footed cross for Cassano who stooped low to glance the ball past Isaksson for his second goal in his fifth international.

The only downside for Italy were bookings for midfielder  Gennaro Gattuso and defender Fabio Cannavaro, and both will miss their final group match against Bulgaria, along with Totti.

With Alessandro Nesta and Cannavaro outstanding at the back and Gianluigi Buffon unbeatable in goal, Italy had looked impregnable.

The tirless running of Gattuso and Simone Perrotta in midfield limited Sweden's options - so much so that their leading striker Henrik Larsson was limited to watching and waiting - and he did not have a goal attempt until midway through the second half when he blasted high and wide.

Sweden, needing a win to ensure a quarter-final place, looked lively on the break at times and both Fredrik Ljungberg and Ibrahimovic went close in the first half but failed to find the target until his late goal saved a point.

Asked about Italy's chances in their next match against Bulgaria, Trapattoni said: "If we play like that I think we've got an excellent chance of winning, though of course it won't be a walk in the park."

Filed by Barry McEneaney

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