Arrivederci Azzurri

My favourite Scandinavians made it, although they're second behind Sweden and now have to play the soaring Czechs.

Lovely drama in last night's matches. Bulgaria actually took the lead in first half injury time with a penalty. Italy clawed a goal back in the second half with much difficulty, and looked to be heading for a draw that would definitely put them out, until netting the winner in the 4th minute of injury time. It would have been glorious, but the camera panned to Buffon clutching his head in despair. He had evidently heard about the Scandinavian scoreline. 2-2 it was, just enough to put both countries above Italy in terms of goals scored. Contrasting scenes in both matches. Unrequited celebration from both sides in the yellow-red stadium. Disappointment for the Bulgarians in letting the only point they would have gained in this tournament slip away in the dying seconds. Anguish, of course, for the Italians.

Expect to hear outraged cries of conspiracy from the Italian side. They deserve to go home though. Trappatoni's strategies are an ineffectual mess. Individual talent mysteriously failing to click together.

The Danes play prettier football than them. Doubt that neutrals will particularly regret Italy's absence either.

Also, Tomasson scored a peach of a goal.

Czech Republic 3-2 Holland
First really good game of Euro 2004. Robben was excellent, assisted both goals and was Holland's best player until he was mysteriously taken off early in the second half. Bosvelt was brought on, apparently to defend their one-goal lead with 35 minutes remaining. It backfired, obviously.

In the meantime, oodles of speculation about Gerrard coming to Chelsea, scousers pissing themselves while I tiptoe amongst them discreetly at their forum.

Last night's match was at 12 instead of 2.30 as I had thought, so I had to adjust to sleeping from 2 to 6 instead. Today's juicy fixture is at 2.30 again though, so I'm having to alternate sleeping schedules. The Danes didn't disappoint, and if poor Jesper could have played instead of being held up in mourning they might have clinched victory.

Hilarious --- Pool's website has headline proclaiming "Gerrard can't save England". Well what he did was to sink England, with his astute back pass right after the kickoff following Zidane's equalising freekick. He failed to spot Henry lurking around (but even then, why the fuck pass back to the goalkeeper immediately after kickoff, under no pressure, and in injury time when you can try to push forward and snatch a winner?), and James brought Henry down for the winning penalty.

Glad for Frank that he scored; convulsed with laughter when Beckscum had his penalty saved by the bald poseur. Sadistic glee about the result. Serve Eriksson right for bringing on duds like Heskey, who shouldn't be in the squad considering the availibility of Smith and Defoe, and who repaid Eriksson's faith by committing the clumsy foul that awarded France their equalising freekick. Serve Eriksson right for playing negatively for the whole second half, letting France come at them until their barriers broke in injury time. Good that King was impressive as a stand-in for Terry; perhaps Terry will not be worked as hard now.