UEFA reject inquiry as Italy leave
LISBON, Portugal -- European soccer's ruling body UEFA has ruled out an inquiry into the 2-2 draw between Denmark and Sweden that ended Italy's interest in Euro 2004.
"Absolutely not," UEFA spokesman Robert Faulkner replied in Lisbon when asked whether officials would investigate Tuesday's Group C game in Guimaraes.
The draw guaranteed the Scandinavian rivals reaching the quarterfinals ahead of Italy who also finished with five points, but Faulkner said: "There is nothing to complain about."
Italian media speculated that Denmark and Sweden would play to a 2-2 draw - a result that saw Italy eliminated despite a 2-1 win over Bulgaria - and even had two extra cameras installed at the game to ensure the match wasn't rigged.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen and his players scoffed at claims the result was fixed.
"It's ridiculous this talk of 2-2," Olsen said. "You saw out there two teams wanting to win the game so please, no more questions about that."
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was convinced foul play was at work.
"I can't believe that two nations like Denmark and Sweden who pride themselves on morality could do such a thing under the eyes of the watching world," he said in Guimaraes.
"There has been talk for days about the possibility of a 2-2 draw and now it's happened - incredible."
Italian federation president Franco Carraro said he believed Denmark and Sweden had aimed for a 2-2 draw.
"There is no doubt that the way the Denmark-Sweden game developed shows that the two teams were aiming for a draw. Of course, proof of that is hard to find," Carraro told Italian television.
In response, another UEFA spokesman William Gaillard told Reuters: "That is an irresponsible remark probably made when emotions were running high."
Lose elegantly
He added: "Teams and their officials should learn how to lose elegantly and focus on the good of the tournament, in making the rest of the tournament a success and looking ahead to the World Cup in 2006."
Italian newspapers agreed and said players should not look for scapegoats following their early exit even if the draw that sealed their exit was suspicious, .
"A team gone to seed. Don't look for alibis," was the headline of a front page commentary in La Repubblica daily.
"In our national team there is not a single real champion," wrote another commentator in La Stampa newspaper.
 Italy's celebrations were cut short after only a few seconds |  |
Two years ago furious Italians blamed the "bias" of Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno for their humiliating World Cup exit against South Korea.
On Wednesday, however, most directed their anger at their own team's uninspiring performance.
"A fraud foretold? Difficult to find the proof," said Corriere della Sera. Veteran journalist Beppe Severgnini, however, writing in the same paper, was outraged.
"Who knows what the Danish is for 'embarrassed', or even the Swedish," was the opening shot of his column, describing how sports journalists from both countries had melted away from the press box after the game on Tuesday night.
La Gazzetta dello Sport said the Scandinavian derby raised many doubts, but added that Italy's exit marked the end of the line for coach Giovanni Trapattoni with former Juventus coach Marcello Lippi poised to take over.
