Euro 2004 Denmark-Sweden ‘was fair’

The Italian media is dominated by comparisons with Euro 2004, but Thomas Helveg insists that Denmark-Sweden “was a fair game.”

The Azzurri will go out of Euro 2012 if Spain-Croatia ends in a 2-2 draw to send both sides through, the same situation that saw them eliminated from the 2004 edition.

The Italian media is dominated by comparisons with Euro 2004, but Thomas Helveg insists that Denmark-Sweden “was a fair game.”

The Azzurri will go out of Euro 2012 if Spain-Croatia ends in a 2-2 draw to send both sides through, the same situation that saw them eliminated from the 2004 edition.

However, those who played in that game are offended by the suggestion their 2-2 result was ‘agreed’ between the teams.

“It was a fair game,” former Danish international Helveg told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We wanted to eliminate Sweden at all costs, as there are centuries of rivalry between us. I do understand there were suspicions in Italy, but nothing unfair happened.

“Can you imagine the pressure that I, Martin Jorgensen and Jon-Dahl Tommason were under? We played our club football in Italy and wanted Denmark to qualify, but were also aware of the controversy we’d come back to if there was a draw.

“We felt as if we were on trial.”

Giovanni Trapattoni was on the Italy bench in Euro 2004 and only this week complained there had not been a UEFA investigation into the Denmark-Sweden match.