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Last Updated: Tuesday, 22 June, 2004, 17:57 GMT 18:57 UK
Clockwatch: Italy 2-1 Bulgaria

All the action from the Group C match in Guimaraes.

Goalflashes and major incidents:

FULL-TIME: The Italians look shattered as they take in the news that despite grabbing an injury-time win, they are out of Euro 2004 because the Sweden v Denmark game has produced a 2-2 draw, the one result that sees both Scandinavian teams through and eliminates Italy.

90 mins +4: GOAL - Bulgaria 1-2 Italy: Cassano fires home and celebrates joyously before the Italian bench tell him it is to no avail. He looks close to tears and the Italians are broken.

90 mins: News filters through of Sweden's equaliser against Denmark - Italy now need a goal and also need either Denmark or Sweden to get a winner. Italy are surely going out.

88 mins: The fourth official shows his board, revealing that there will be five minutes of stoppage time.

85 mins: An Italian corner results in Nesta's header being touched over by Zdravkov. Italy are still looking for the goal which will more than likely put them through.

84 mins: Bulgaria win a free-kick just outside the Italy penalty area. Berbatov powers the free-kick towards Buffon's left-hand corner and the Italian goalkeeper does well to tip the ball round the post.

83 mins: Centre-forward Di Vaio comes on for centre-half Materazzi as Italy throw everything at their opponents.

80 mins: Lazarov is booked for a challenge on Del Piero. The Bulgarians are trying to break the Italians' rhythm with a succession of fouls.

79 mins: Del Piero feeds Zambrotta and his shot from the edge of the box is deflected just wide.

78 mins: Hristov is replaced by Velizar Dimitrov.

77 mins: Cassano crashes down on the edge of the box under the challenge of a Bulgarian defender and slaps the turf in frustration as the referee waves play on.

75 mins: Cassano's corner is met by Vieri but his header brushes past the far post.

73 mins: Italy are pouring forward at every chance as Bulgaria begin to look more and more ragged in defence. Zagorcic returns to the field after treatment.

72 mins: Pirlo's cross is met by Vieri but once again, his header does not find the target.

70 mins: There is a pause in the play while Zagorcic is treated after getting the ball full in the face.

69 mins: The balls skids through for Cassano but he is only able to poke the ball straight at a grateful Zdravkov.

68 mins: Lazarov again is left writhing on the ground. Italy send on Oddo for Perrotta.

65 mins: Stoyanov is booked for a high tackle.

63 mins: A nasty collision leaves Lazarov and Perrotta stretched out on the turf although both eventually resume their part in the game. Kiril Kotev replaces centreback Pazhin for Bulgaria.

60 mins: Italy break quickly and Fiore crosses but Vieri cannot steer his header on target

56 mins: Italy are pressing forward at every opportunity, having to throw away their naturally conservative instincts as they go in search of a winner.

53 mins: Christian Vieri comes on to replace Corradi.

50 mins: Pirlo curls in a free-kick which just clears the bar.

49 mins: Substitute Bozhinov is booked for a challenge on Panucci.

48 mins: GOAL - Italy 1-1 Bulgaria: Zambrotta pulls the ball back from the byline and Cassano blasts the ball which bounces down off the bar. Zdravkov fails to gather the rebound and Perrotta manages to steer the ball home to give Italy the best possible start to the second half.

46 mins: Bulgaria bring on 18-year-old striker Bozhinov for Jankovic. It is still teeming with rain.

HALF-TIME: Bulgaria's goal has given Italy a mountain to climb if they want to qualify for the quarter-finals. As things stand, they are currently bottom of the group.

45 mins: GOAL - Italy 0-1 Bulgaria: Bulgaria get a penalty after Materazzi is adjudged to have held back Berbatov in the penalty area. Petrov steps up and sweeps the ball into the corner of the net for Bulgaria's first goal of the tournament. Materazzi is booked.

40 mins: Del Piero sends in a 30-yard free-kick which skids awkwardly on the turf in front of Zdravkov but the Bulgarian goalkeeper does well to gather the ball safely.

37 mins: Lazarov makes a jinking run through the Italian defence before collapsing in a heap amid several defenders in the penalty area. The Bulgarian striker looks appealingly at the referee, who is unmoved and waves play on.

30 mins: Italy seize on a Bulgarian defensive error, Corradi heading through to Cassano, whose shot evades the far post.

28 mins: Bulgaria break and Hristov puts through Petrov, whose fierce shot forces Buffon into parrying the ball for a corner.

25 mins: Zambrotta gets down the left wing again and his cross is cleverly flicked on by Cassano but Corradi's header is comfortably dealt with by Zdravkov.

22 mins: Italy have the upper hand in what is a very open game, made more so by the rain which is now lashing down.

17 mins: Zambrotta does well to get to the byline and cross from the left but Corradi cannot get his head to the ball.

13 mins: Cassano's cross is volleyed goalward by Zambrotta, forcing Bulgarian keeper Zdravkov into a superb reaction save, diving to his left. Del Piero then pokes the rebound wide.

12 mins: Petrov unleashes a speculative left-foot swerving shot from the left wing which Buffon punches away.

10 mins: Cassano escapes his marker and tears down the right wing but receives little support from his team-mates and no-one is on hand to meet his cross which skids right through the box.

9 mins: Full-back Panucci makes a good interception and sets Italy off on a counter-attack but the move breaks down.

3 mins: It is a scrappy opening as both teams attempt to get to grips with the slippery conditions.

1945 BST: Italy kick off, knowing that they need a victory to have a chance of making the quarter-finals.

Pre-match build-up:

It is more like Wimbledon than Portugal as the rain pours down in Guimaraes ahead of the kick-off.

Team news:

Italy's Marco Materazzi and Stefano Fiore come in for the suspended Fabio Cannavaro and Gennaro Gattuso.

Bernardo Corradi replaces the injured Christian Vieri.

Bulgaria, who are already out of the tournament, make a hatful of changes to their line-up.

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Christian Panucci, Alessandro Nesta, Marco Materazzi, Gianluca Zambrotta, Stefano Fiore, Andrea Pirlo, Simone Perrotta, Antonio Cassano, Alessandro Del Piero, Bernardo Corradi.

Bulgaria: Zdravko Zdravkov, Daniel Borimirov, Predrag Pazhin, Zlatomir Zagorcic, Ilian Stoyanov, Zoran Jankovic, Milen Petkov, Marian Hristov, Martin Petrov, Dimitar Berbatov, Zdravko Lazarov.

Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)

Links to more Euro 2004 stories


Highlights: Italy 2-1 Bulgaria


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