Sweden battle for draw with Italy

Italy 1 Cassano 37
Sweden 1 Ibrahimovic 85

Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck a late goal to give Sweden a battling 1-1 draw with a vastly-improved Italy side playing without suspended playmaker Francesco Totti in a storming Group C clash yesterday.

The points seemed to be heading Italy's way when Ibrahimovic hooked the ball into the top corner with his back to goal after a scramble in the area in the 85th minute.

Italy had taken the lead after 37 minutes with a header from Antonio Cassano and outplayed a determined Sweden team for long periods.

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 Andreas Isaksson in the Swedish goal had prevented Italy from extending their lead.

Totti, banned by UEFA for three matches for spitting, 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 goalless opening match.

Italy attacked for most of the 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 created the goal with a left-footed inswinging 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 Gennaro Gattuso and Fabio Cannavaro, and both will miss the Bulgaria match, along with Totti.

Bulgaria, already eliminated, will probably not pose too much of a threat to Italy if they show this kind of form again next Tuesday.

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

The tireless running of Gattuso and Simone Perrotta in midfield limited Sweden's options and Henrik Larsson did not have a goal attempt until midway through the second half when he blasted high and wide.

Sweden looked lively on the break and both Fredrik Ljungberg and Ibrahimovic went close in the first half until his late goal saved a point.

Aftermatch comments...

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni said his players had given everything in their draw with Sweden.

"We gave everything we had, played well and created a lot of chances, but their goalkeeper was superb," Trapattoni commented.

"In the second half we got tired and they were able to push up on the wings. When they scored I thought there might have been a foul on Zambrotta."

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."

Sweden striker Henrik Larsson said his side were very pleased after battling back to earn a point with Italy. "It was a great goal Zlatan scored and we were very pleased with the draw," Larsson said.

"They are a very skilful Italian side but we were able to put them under pressure in the second half and were able to get the equaliser."

Italy: Buffon; Panucci, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Gattuso (Favalli 76), Pirlo, Perrotta; Cassano (Fiore 70), Del Piero (Camoranesi 82), Vieri.

Sweden: Isaksson; Nilsson, Mellberg, Jakobsson, Edman (Allback 77); Wilhelmsson (Jonson 67), Linderoth, A. Svensson (Kallstrom 55), Ljungberg; Ibrahimovic, Larsson.

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland).

HT: 1-0.

Attendance: 44,926.