ITALIAN slang for a fixed football match is a biscotto.
And the Azzurri and their fans reckoned Denmark and Sweden took the biscuit in a stitch-up which saw the Nordic neighbours go through and dunk Giovanni Trapattoni's side out of Euro 2004.
Fixing and favours is part of Italian culture from the time of Machiavelli and the Medicis, and Calciopoli would explode just two years later where Juventus were relegated to Serie B.
And so conspiracy-obsessed Italians feared the worst before the final round of Group C games after drawing with Denmark (0-0) and Sweden (1-1).
Denne historien er fra June 18, 2024-utgaven av Daily Star.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 18, 2024-utgaven av Daily Star.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
EMERY HAS UNAI ON HIMSELF
UNAI EMERY says he's having to manage himself during Villa's mini-slump.
Palace task bit more Eze
CRYSTAL PALACE'S bid to climb out of the drop zone has been boosted by the return of Eberechi Eze and Eddie Nketiah for today's home clash with Newcastle.
TOP DEKI
Kulusevski has world at his feet says Ange
ANDERSEN INJURY IS PAIN FOR SILVA
MARCO SILVA has revealed Joachim Andersen is facing several weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury.
MAX'S BULL MONTE
Verstappen planning to take it as Red forever
SUNNY GYM
Yafai scoffs at Edwards' claim it's not a fair fight
WILSON'S HARD AT IT
RUSSELL WILSON has taken plenty of big hits in his 13 years as a pro but this is the first time he has been the star of Hard Knocks.
OLLIE'S A SMART ALEC
Stew helps Pope get mojo back
FRY-UP 'THE BEST HANGOVER CURE'
It's all about those eggs
Stuff you Joe! Trump YMCA turkey video..
DANCING DON BURSTS FROM BIRD IN AI CLIP
