Italy against Bulgaria

Italy's dream is over - Sweden, in the 89th minute, have levelled the scores against Denmark

There will be five minutes of added time - five minutes for Italy to rescue themselves

Del Piero crosses - too deep for Vieri. Normal time is very, very nearly over ... is Italy's Euro 2004?

Fiore breaks, and is stopped by a good midfield challenge. But Bulgaria come forward again, only for the final ball to elude Berbatov

Lazarov crosses, Italy clear - and then they give the ball back to Bulgaria, who have just a few minutes to hold out for their first point of the tournament and end Italy's involvement

Nesta heads goalwards, and Zdravkov tips over. High, high drama now

Italy clear their lines, and Zagorchich is forced to give away a corner as the Italians break...

Berbatov takes it ... he blasts it, and Buffon dives to his left to make a fine stop. Corner to Bulgaria...

Nesta gives away a free-kick just outside his own area ... it's a great shooting chance. Can they stun Italy again?

Another break in play - Di Vaio on for Italy, and the striker replaces defender Materazzi. This really is all or nothing now

Panucci swings the ball in, and Bulgaria yet again clear their lines

...again, Bulgaria stand firm. Then Lazarov goes into the book for a clumsy challenge on Pirlo

Ten minutes to go. Zambrotta shoots from the edge of the box, and sees his effort deflect for a corner...

...only for it to be frittered away by a poor final ball. Bulgaria will make another change - Hristov off, Velizar Dimitrov on

They have another free-kick, and deliver another cross through Oddo. It's cleared, and Berbatov and Petrov get some possession at last for Bulgaria...

A contentious moment, and one the Italians are bound to look back on if tonight goes wrong for them

Cassano controls the ball beautifully but then tumbles under challenge just inside the area. No penalty, says the referee

Pirlo picks up possession and has a go from long range. And why not? It deflects for a corner, which Vieri meets with a header. In keeping with his headed efforts in this tournament so far, it's off-target

Moving towards the final quarter of an hour of this match, and Italy still in dire need of that one precious goal

Now it's Oddo again, again crossing from the right. This time, the offside flag is up

Pirlo crosses as Bulgaria give the ball carelessly away, but the header is over the top from Vieri

Trap's Italy side beginning to pour forward. Otto crosses, Bulgaria block through Zagorchich, who is knocked to the ground by the impact of that ball

Cassano crosses for Vieri, and Stoyanov is the man in the right place for Bulgaria

Tomasson gets his second goal of the game, and could yet be the toast of Italy this evening

He's back on his feet. Italian change - Perrotta off, and Oddo comes on. Denmark have retaken the lead ... now Italy only need to score one more to go through

Lazarov looks to be clattered on the edge of the Italy area - play on, says the referee, even though the Bulgaria player looks to be in some pain

A bit better from Bulgaria, who have had something of a dearth of possession since Italy equalised

...it's not the greatest attempt, and Italy get it clear

Hristov on the ball for Bulgaria, and now Berbatov tries to cross from the right...

Those incidents brought a temporary halt to the game, but the action's back up and running again now

But they're OK - and Kiril Kotev will come on for Pazin as the Bulgarians look to weather this Italian storm

Bulgaria set to make another change: but before then, Lazarov and Perrotta collide in the centre circle and are both left in a heap on the ground

...he looks for Berbatov, who is denied. At the other end, Vieri gets on to the end of a cross but misjudges his header and just spoons it up into the air

Bulgaria attempt to hit back down their left - Petrov takes it on...

Nervous faces amongs the Italy fans, but their team have yet another free-kick, which Cassano gets to and nods wide of the target

Zagorchich clears from almost under his own crossbar after a good cross, but Bulgaria survive

Now Panucci looks for a long ball, and looks for Vieri - there's too much power on that, and Bulgaria have a goal-kick

Perrotta looks for a long ball forward, and Zambrotta is adjudged to have fouled his defender. Free-kick Bulgaria

Yet another cross, Cassano again the target. Zdravkov is there to get a crucial touch and divert it out of harm's way for Bulgaria

Fiore plays it through for Cassano - he gets there and tries to cross, but it's scuffed and trickles into the side netting

Del Piero crosses, and Bulgaria head it away

In the meantime, they'll whip in this free-kick from the right...

Del Piero goes to ground ... and Italy are going to take a chance on the injured Vieri, who comes on for Corradi

Del Piero hassles and harries - Zagorchich looks to have touched it behind, but the referee had spotted a foul and Bulgaria have a free-kick

It's curled in, but there's too much on it and it drifts over the crossbar

Pirlo plays the ball forward for Italy, and his pass wins his side a dangerous free-kick on the left...

Italy now have to win this game 3-1 to progress but, fuelled by the impetus of that very quick equaliser, who knows?

Bozhinov is booked ... in the other game, Sweden have levelled thanks to a Henrik Larsson penalty...

But they've equalised - a mad scramble happens as Cassano hits the bar, the keeper can't get it, and Perrotta stabs it in. It's 1-1!

Italy head the ball forward, but Hristov is in the way for Bulgaria. The Italians have to go for it now - they have to get two goals, but will need to step up a gear to do it

Bulgaria get the game under way - their young prospect Bozhinov is on for Yankovich

The half-time whistle goes. Italy are staring disaster in the face and Bulgaria deserve their surprise 1-0 lead, earned through Petrov

Del Piero takes advantage of a loose ball to shoot - it's well blocked, and we're very close to half-time now...

Italy now have to score twice - and hope for the right result in Sweden v Denmark - or they're going home

It's clean as a whistle, low into Buffon's right-hand corner as the keeper dives the other way. Incredibly, it's 1-0 Bulgaria!

Materazzi is booked, and it's a penalty to Bulgaria! It's a pretty questionable decision, and Martin Petrov will try to take advantage...

Bulgaria in possession again - they've played some good football in this half. It's played in to Berbatov, who's challenged by Materazzi...

Del Piero crosses deep. Very deep. Too deep. Goal-kick Bulgaria

...and Zdravkov gets behind the ball well, holding on despite the damp and slippery conditions

Can Italy do anything? Del Piero will strike it...

Five minutes to the break, and Bulgaria have concede a silly free-kick 25 yards out and central...

A great run by Lazarov and, against nervy opponents, more of the same could yet bring Bulgaria their first goal of the tournament

Lazarov jinks and twists into the penalty area, but there's nobody in close enough support and the threat subsides

...he still hasn't imposed himself, giving the ball away. When Italy get it back, and cross from the left, yet another offside flag is raised against them

Panucci forward - Petkov away. Hristov and Yankovich on the left ... but it breaks down and Del Piero, who has yet to really impose himself on the game, has the ball...

Free-kick to Bulgaria, out on the right. Petrov skews it wildly over the crossbar

...and they don't. Lazarov comes forward to cross, and a shaky-looking Panucci clears

Bulgaria see an attack break down, but there's not the feeling - as there was in the first half of their game against Sweden - that Italy will do anything constructive with their possession

Then a long ball forward for the Italians - and a dramatically-flourished offside flag from an increasingly drenched linesman. Well done to him - that was lovely

Perrotta finds Del Piero, who flicks to Cassano ... he gets a touch on it, and steers it narrowly wide of the far post

Meanwhile, Tomasson gives Denmark the lead against Sweden - if Italy win and things there stay the same, the Italians will be through at Sweden's expense

...it's punched clear, and Petrov races upfield to get in a shot that Buffon tips round the post

Corradi suddenly has space and time on the left of the Bulgaria area - he's swiftly closed down, but manages to win Italy a corner...

A good break from Bulgaria finds Berbatov just outside the area. He has a go from long range, but it's blocked

Coming up to the half hour, and it has to get much, much better than this from Italy

The ball is swung into the area, but it's more in hope than expectation and the clearance is easy enough for the Bulgarian defence

Fiore and Zambrotta combine, and Italy win a free-kick midway inside the Bulgaria half thanks to Lazarov's foul

Goal-kick to Bulgaria - Zdravkov, who's made the game's best save so far, finds Berbatov, but the ball goes behind for an Italy goal-kick

It's an even and competitive game between Sweden and Denmark, but there are no goals. As things stand, Italy are on their way home, with Sweden and Denmark progressing

It's cleared, and then Stoyanov tries a long-ranger that whistles over the top. Bulgaria look slightly the better side so far...

Petrov is the man masterminding this one - it's from the left-hand corner of the box...

Nesta fouls Berbatov on halfway - then Petrov is fouled in a much more dangerous position near the penalty area...

To add to their frustration, as the rain comes tumbling down, an offside flag goes up

On the evidence of the game so far, Italy have to step up their efforts to stave off the nightmare of an early exit

It could even be the sort of night that ends up with them needing to take solace in dark corners of bars

...and if things carry on like this, it's going to be a long, long night for Trap and the Italy supporters

Hristov is caught offside down the left for Bulgaria, with the flag going up late. Italy give the ball straight back to their opponents...

Zambrotta crosses from the left, with Corradi the intended target - it's just too high for the striker

...sure enough, he's crowded out by a side who - infuriatingly for the Italians - appear to have found some defensive shape for the first time in the tournament

Corradi gives Del Piero little chance, playing the ball back to the closely-marked striker on the edge of the area...

Rather as they did in the early stages of the Sweden game, Bulgaria are looking to come forward whenever they can. Hristov tries now, but his run is snuffed out

Berbatov flicks on, but there's nobody there. Good little spell of end-to-end action

...and he steers it narrowly wide. Brilliant stop by the Bulgarian keeper in the first place, though

At the other end, Casaano crosses, Zambrotta volleys and Zdravkov makes a great save - the rebound falls for Del Piero...

Closer now - Petrov hits a long-distance swerver and Buffon knocks it behind for a corner

Cassano chases another lumped pass forward - Stoyanov heads into touch. Italian nerves pretty close to the surface

That's going to frustrate Italy, who have yet to put much in the way of calm, passing football together

Plenty of signs of no-nonsense defending from Bulgaria - Zagorchich belting the ball up in the air and out of harm's way

...and crosses dangerously. Italy glad just to swipe that one out of harm's way

Cassano on the break on the right - Zagorchich clears. Petrov comes forward down the left for Bulgaria...

Borimirov has space to come forward but - once again - the choice of final pass from a Bulgaria player is pretty woeful, and Italy gratefully regain possession

A foul on Milan Petkov gives Bulgaria a free-kick deep in their own half

Pirlo shows some of the nervousness that must be afflicting Italy, hoofing a hopeful pass forward when he had the space and time to come up with something more constructive

Bulgaria, with nothing to lose, are putting a few decent patches of passing together on a rather zippy, rain-coated surface

Marian Hristov is the intended recipient of his pass, but can't get the ball under control and the move fizzles out

Pirlo plays a fine ball to Del Piero, lurking on the left for Italy. He's crowded out and Yankovich comes forward...

Perrotta launches it forward for Italy - Zagorchich is the man in the way for Bulgaria

...but, in the end, it's all promise and no end product - the story of Bulgaria's first half against Sweden, when they put some decent moves together before capitulating after the break

Martin Petrov, one of their better players over the group stage, gets the ball down the left and tries to get something going...

Bulgaria have hardly touched the ball in these opening seconds - the tournament can't really get any worse for them, so they may as well attempt something of a face-saving performance

The Italians kick off, and pass the ball around at the back and in midfield. They have Vieri only on the bench after he picked up a knock

Italy have to win, and then hope for the best. It's the first rainy night of the tournament as Trap and co prepare for what is a monumental match

A contentious moment, and one the Italians are bound to look back on if tonight goes wrong for them

Cassano controls the ball beautifully but then tumbles under challenge just inside the area. No penalty, says the referee

Pirlo picks up possession and has a go from long range. And why not? It deflects for a corner, which Vieri meets with a header. In keeping with his headed efforts in this tournament so far, it's off-target

Moving towards the final quarter of an hour of this match, and Italy still in dire need of that one precious goal

Now it's Oddo again, again crossing from the right. This time, the offside flag is up

Pirlo crosses as Bulgaria give the ball carelessly away, but the header is over the top from Vieri

Trap's Italy side beginning to pour forward. Otto crosses, Bulgaria block through Zagorchich, who is knocked to the ground by the impact of that ball

Cassano crosses for Vieri, and Stoyanov is the man in the right place for Bulgaria

Tomasson gets his second goal of the game, and could yet be the toast of Italy this evening

He's back on his feet. Italian change - Perrotta off, and Oddo comes on. Denmark have retaken the lead ... now Italy only need to score one more to go through

Lazarov looks to be clattered on the edge of the Italy area - play on, says the referee, even though the Bulgaria player looks to be in some pain

A bit better from Bulgaria, who have had something of a dearth of possession since Italy equalised

...it's not the greatest attempt, and Italy get it clear

Hristov on the ball for Bulgaria, and now Berbatov tries to cross from the right...

Those incidents brought a temporary halt to the game, but the action's back up and running again now

But they're OK - and Kiril Kotev will come on for Pazin as the Bulgarians look to weather this Italian storm

Bulgaria set to make another change: but before then, Lazarov and Perrotta collide in the centre circle and are both left in a heap on the ground

...he looks for Berbatov, who is denied. At the other end, Vieri gets on to the end of a cross but misjudges his header and just spoons it up into the air

Bulgaria attempt to hit back down their left - Petrov takes it on...

Nervous faces amongs the Italy fans, but their team have yet another free-kick, which Cassano gets to and nods wide of the target

Zagorchich clears from almost under his own crossbar after a good cross, but Bulgaria survive

Now Panucci looks for a long ball, and looks for Vieri - there's too much power on that, and Bulgaria have a goal-kick

Perrotta looks for a long ball forward, and Zambrotta is adjudged to have fouled his defender. Free-kick Bulgaria

Yet another cross, Cassano again the target. Zdravkov is there to get a crucial touch and divert it out of harm's way for Bulgaria

Fiore plays it through for Cassano - he gets there and tries to cross, but it's scuffed and trickles into the side netting

Del Piero crosses, and Bulgaria head it away

In the meantime, they'll whip in this free-kick from the right...

Del Piero goes to ground ... and Italy are going to take a chance on the injured Vieri, who comes on for Corradi

Del Piero hassles and harries - Zagorchich looks to have touched it behind, but the referee had spotted a foul and Bulgaria have a free-kick

It's curled in, but there's too much on it and it drifts over the crossbar

Pirlo plays the ball forward for Italy, and his pass wins his side a dangerous free-kick on the left...

Italy now have to win this game 3-1 to progress but, fuelled by the impetus of that very quick equaliser, who knows?

Bozhinov is booked ... in the other game, Sweden have levelled thanks to a Henrik Larsson penalty...

But they've equalised - a mad scramble happens as Cassano hits the bar, the keeper can't get it, and Perrotta stabs it in. It's 1-1!

Italy head the ball forward, but Hristov is in the way for Bulgaria. The Italians have to go for it now - they have to get two goals, but will need to step up a gear to do it

Bulgaria get the game under way - their young prospect Bozhinov is on for Yankovich

The half-time whistle goes. Italy are staring disaster in the face and Bulgaria deserve their surprise 1-0 lead, earned through Petrov

Del Piero takes advantage of a loose ball to shoot - it's well blocked, and we're very close to half-time now...

Italy now have to score twice - and hope for the right result in Sweden v Denmark - or they're going home

It's clean as a whistle, low into Buffon's right-hand corner as the keeper dives the other way. Incredibly, it's 1-0 Bulgaria!

Materazzi is booked, and it's a penalty to Bulgaria! It's a pretty questionable decision, and Martin Petrov will try to take advantage...

Bulgaria in possession again - they've played some good football in this half. It's played in to Berbatov, who's challenged by Materazzi...

Del Piero crosses deep. Very deep. Too deep. Goal-kick Bulgaria

...and Zdravkov gets behind the ball well, holding on despite the damp and slippery conditions

Can Italy do anything? Del Piero will strike it...

Five minutes to the break, and Bulgaria have concede a silly free-kick 25 yards out and central...

A great run by Lazarov and, against nervy opponents, more of the same could yet bring Bulgaria their first goal of the tournament

Lazarov jinks and twists into the penalty area, but there's nobody in close enough support and the threat subsides

...he still hasn't imposed himself, giving the ball away. When Italy get it back, and cross from the left, yet another offside flag is raised against them

Panucci forward - Petkov away. Hristov and Yankovich on the left ... but it breaks down and Del Piero, who has yet to really impose himself on the game, has the ball...

Free-kick to Bulgaria, out on the right. Petrov skews it wildly over the crossbar

...and they don't. Lazarov comes forward to cross, and a shaky-looking Panucci clears

Bulgaria see an attack break down, but there's not the feeling - as there was in the first half of their game against Sweden - that Italy will do anything constructive with their possession

Then a long ball forward for the Italians - and a dramatically-flourished offside flag from an increasingly drenched linesman. Well done to him - that was lovely

Perrotta finds Del Piero, who flicks to Cassano ... he gets a touch on it, and steers it narrowly wide of the far post

Meanwhile, Tomasson gives Denmark the lead against Sweden - if Italy win and things there stay the same, the Italians will be through at Sweden's expense

...it's punched clear, and Petrov races upfield to get in a shot that Buffon tips round the post

Corradi suddenly has space and time on the left of the Bulgaria area - he's swiftly closed down, but manages to win Italy a corner...

A good break from Bulgaria finds Berbatov just outside the area. He has a go from long range, but it's blocked

Coming up to the half hour, and it has to get much, much better than this from Italy

The ball is swung into the area, but it's more in hope than expectation and the clearance is easy enough for the Bulgarian defence

Fiore and Zambrotta combine, and Italy win a free-kick midway inside the Bulgaria half thanks to Lazarov's foul

Goal-kick to Bulgaria - Zdravkov, who's made the game's best save so far, finds Berbatov, but the ball goes behind for an Italy goal-kick

It's an even and competitive game between Sweden and Denmark, but there are no goals. As things stand, Italy are on their way home, with Sweden and Denmark progressing

It's cleared, and then Stoyanov tries a long-ranger that whistles over the top. Bulgaria look slightly the better side so far...

Petrov is the man masterminding this one - it's from the left-hand corner of the box...

Nesta fouls Berbatov on halfway - then Petrov is fouled in a much more dangerous position near the penalty area...

To add to their frustration, as the rain comes tumbling down, an offside flag goes up

On the evidence of the game so far, Italy have to step up their efforts to stave off the nightmare of an early exit

It could even be the sort of night that ends up with them needing to take solace in dark corners of bars

...and if things carry on like this, it's going to be a long, long night for Trap and the Italy supporters

Hristov is caught offside down the left for Bulgaria, with the flag going up late. Italy give the ball straight back to their opponents...

Zambrotta crosses from the left, with Corradi the intended target - it's just too high for the striker

...sure enough, he's crowded out by a side who - infuriatingly for the Italians - appear to have found some defensive shape for the first time in the tournament

Corradi gives Del Piero little chance, playing the ball back to the closely-marked striker on the edge of the area...

Rather as they did in the early stages of the Sweden game, Bulgaria are looking to come forward whenever they can. Hristov tries now, but his run is snuffed out

Berbatov flicks on, but there's nobody there. Good little spell of end-to-end action

...and he steers it narrowly wide. Brilliant stop by the Bulgarian keeper in the first place, though

At the other end, Casaano crosses, Zambrotta volleys and Zdravkov makes a great save - the rebound falls for Del Piero...

Closer now - Petrov hits a long-distance swerver and Buffon knocks it behind for a corner

Cassano chases another lumped pass forward - Stoyanov heads into touch. Italian nerves pretty close to the surface

That's going to frustrate Italy, who have yet to put much in the way of calm, passing football together

Plenty of signs of no-nonsense defending from Bulgaria - Zagorchich belting the ball up in the air and out of harm's way

...and crosses dangerously. Italy glad just to swipe that one out of harm's way

Cassano on the break on the right - Zagorchich clears. Petrov comes forward down the left for Bulgaria...

Borimirov has space to come forward but - once again - the choice of final pass from a Bulgaria player is pretty woeful, and Italy gratefully regain possession

A foul on Milan Petkov gives Bulgaria a free-kick deep in their own half

Pirlo shows some of the nervousness that must be afflicting Italy, hoofing a hopeful pass forward when he had the space and time to come up with something more constructive

Bulgaria, with nothing to lose, are putting a few decent patches of passing together on a rather zippy, rain-coated surface

Marian Hristov is the intended recipient of his pass, but can't get the ball under control and the move fizzles out

Pirlo plays a fine ball to Del Piero, lurking on the left for Italy. He's crowded out and Yankovich comes forward...

Perrotta launches it forward for Italy - Zagorchich is the man in the way for Bulgaria

...but, in the end, it's all promise and no end product - the story of Bulgaria's first half against Sweden, when they put some decent moves together before capitulating after the break

Martin Petrov, one of their better players over the group stage, gets the ball down the left and tries to get something going...

Bulgaria have hardly touched the ball in these opening seconds - the tournament can't really get any worse for them, so they may as well attempt something of a face-saving performance

The Italians kick off, and pass the ball around at the back and in midfield. They have Vieri only on the bench after he picked up a knock

Italy have to win, and then hope for the best. It's the first rainy night of the tournament as Trap and co prepare for what is a monumental match