Beaten Swedes bemoan misses

Lars Lagerback: heading home in downbeat mood

Swedish co-coach Lars Lagerback could not hide his feelings after his side went out of Euro 2000.

A 2-1 defeat at the hands of Italy, allied to Turkey's win over Belgium, meant elimination for the Swedes and only one point from their three games.

We haven't done ourselves justice in this tournament

Lars Lagerback

"We feel very disappointed," he said.

"We should have won the game and my players did a marvellous job out there.

"We created a lot of goal-scoring chances and were a little bit unlucky.

Justice

"We haven't done ourselves justice in this tournament but it's up to us to prove the ability we have.

"We didn't play to our normal standard against Belgium or Turkey, but we have progressed step by step through this group."

Italian coach Dino Zoff conceded his team had been second-best for parts of the game.

"Sweden deserved more from this match but fortune favoured the Italians," he said.

Maldini: injury worry for Saturday

"On the positive side we showed we can produce goals, but on the negative side we conceded a lot of possession.

"I was more satisfied with our performance in the previous two games. We seem to be split into two, into defence and attack with no real centre."

Zoff is hopeful his captain Paolo Maldini will be fit for Italy's quarter-final in Brussels on Saturday.

England await?

The AC Milan defender limped off before half-time with a knee injury but his coach is upbeat over his chances of recovering in time for the weekend, when Italy could face England if Kevin Keegan's team get a point against Romania.

But both Mark Iuliano and Luigi di Biagio are nursing injuries.

"Maldini has injured his knee but I don't think it's a big problem, and maybe he will be alright," said Zoff.

"We will first think about his recuperation before we think about his role in the side on Saturday."

Lagerback predicted good things for Zoff's team as the tournament progresses.

"I've got a lot of respect for the Italians - even if we should have scored more against them," he said.

Experienced

"They've shown in these three matches that they can play well, they've got good qualities and are a very experienced team.

"They have a good chance to go very far in this competition."

Zoff was cautiously optimistic: "We don't know who we'll play, but all the teams who reach the quarter finals will be good teams," he said.

"We always have a 50 per cent chance."