Denmark and Italy played out a goalless draw in the hot Guimaraes sun in the
Euro 2004 opener for both sides.
Italy, beaten finalists four years ago against France, never found their
stride as the determined Danes shone but failed to hit the back of the net.
The Danes, considered by coach Giovanni Trapattoni as their major threat in
Group C, successfully held the Azzurri. Italy did have two excellent changes but
goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was outstanding.
Highly-rated goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon also came to the rescue for Italy on
a few occasions.
The Azzurri, featuring from the start for the first time in a major
competition their superstar attacking trio of Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco
Totti and Christian Vieri, failed to convince in the first-half.
The absence of inspirational leader Thomas Gravesen and experienced winger
Jesper Gronkjaer did not hinder Denmark as Daniel Jensen and Dennis Rommedahl
proved two sturdy replacements.
Denmark were determined not to be intimidated by the Azzurri and began in
confident fashion forcing two half chances in the opening minutes.
AC Milan forward John Dahl Tomasson was the first to test Buffon but his long
shot proved an easy catch for the Juventus keeper.
With eight minutes played, defender Gianluca Zambrotta was forced to make a
vital block following Dennis Rommedahl's dangerous shot on target.
Four minutes later, playmaker Totti came close to giving his side an early
lead but his powerful free-kick towards the right post was saved by Sorensen.
In the 16th minute Thomas Helveg came so close to surprising Buffon but his
powerful shot from outside the box was palmed away by Italy's number one.
Italy were beginning to get a grip in midfield after Denmark's whirlwind
opening but Trapattoni's men still struggled to get past their rival's solid
defence.
Midway through the first-half, Spanish referee Mejuto Gonzalez showed the
first yellow card of the game after Tomasson's clear dive inside Italy's box.
With 32 minutes played, Italy escaped unharmed when Ebbe Sand's powerful
header inside the area following Niclas Jensen's free-kick went wide of Buffon's
far post.
Shortly afterwards, an unmarked Helveg tried his luck from the distance but
fortunately for the Azzurri, the ball went wide.
Two minutes prior to the break, Sorensen made two spectacular saves from close
range shots by Del Piero and Totti to keep the game scoreless. No changes were
made at half-time with both coaches satisfied with their initial line-ups.
Italy attempted to press forward more aggressively after the break but it was
Denmark who yet again proved more dangerous.
Two minutes into the second-half, AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta was
forced to block Sand's powerful strike from inside the area.
However, shortly after, Zambrotta should have given Italy the lead when Totti
found him unmarked inside the area but his shot went inches wide of Sorensen's
left post.
In the 57th minute, Sorensen was forced to make a fine save after Vieri's
powerful header on target following Zambrotta's cross from the right.
Trapattoni finally made two substitutions with AC Milan midfielder Gennaro
Gattuso replacing Cristiano Zanetti and Roma rising star Antonio Cassano taking
Del Piero's place in an attempt to give Italy more force in attack.
With 67 minutes played, Italy made their last substitution with Stefano Fiore
replacing Camoranesi.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen responded as he reinforced his midfield with Claus
Jensen replacing Sand and Denmark made their second substitution midway through
the second-half with Kenneth Perez substituting Jorgensen.
And it was not long before Olsen opted to bring in defender Brian Priske in
place of Poulsen.
With 15 minutes remaining, Buffon proved why he is considered one of the best
goalkeepers in the world after two marvellous saves from right to left following
two consecutive close range shots from Tomasson and Rommedahl.
With eight minutes remaining, Italy's number one was once again put to test by
Daniel Jensen's powerful long shot but the keeper punched the ball clear.
Italy had their last opportunity of the game after Henriksen fouled Totti on
the edge of the area but his free-kick flew high and wide.
Teams
Denmark: Sorensen, Niclas Jensen, Henriksen, Laursen, Helveg,
Poulsen (Priske 76), Tomasson, Daniel Jensen,
Jorgensen (Perez 72), Sand (Claus Jensen 69), Rommedahl.
Subs Not Used: Skov-Jensen, Andersen, Bogelund, Kahlenberg,
Kroldrup, Madsen, Lovenkrands.
Booked: Tomasson, Helveg.
Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Nesta, Panucci,
Zanetti (Gattuso 57), Perrotta, Del Piero (Cassano 64), Totti,
Camoranesi (Fiore 68), Vieri.
Subs Not Used: Toldo, Peruzzi, Oddo, Ferrari, Corradi, Favalli,
Di Vaio, Pirlo, Materazzi.
Booked: Cannavaro, Cassano, Gattuso, Totti.
Att: 30,000
Ref: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
