Italy beat Group E rivals Sweden
1-0 in Toulouse on Friday thanks to a thrilling goal by Eder in
the 88th minute to qualify for the last 16 with a game to spare.
The Brazilian-born forward, who has been under fire for a
recent lack of goals, went on a jinking run from outside the box
and cruised past a defender before steering the ball into the
bottom corner.
The Azzurri, who went into the tournament in France with
low expectations of their chances back home, are top of the
group with six points after beating Belgium 2-0 in their opener
on Monday.
"It was a tough, difficult match," Italy coach Antonio
Conte told State broadcaster RAI.
"We struggled more in the first half. They got to the
ball first, but we didn't concede them anything.
"Who would have imagined that Italy would have qualified
after two games.
"The lads did well to inflict the damage when it was
needed".
"We deserved this win," said Eder.
"I'm happy for the whole squad, the merit is everybody's.
"It was a tough game, we knew it would be because of the
way they play, very compact and closed-down.
"We did better in the second half, Conte told us to play
more out wide and we managed to do that".
The match got off to a frenetic start with both sides
looking to attack and creating a few half chances.
The Swedes put lots of pressure on Conte's men when they
were on the ball and the Azzurri struggled to get their passes
flowing.
Indeed, Sweden, who had a greater need to win the game
after drawing their opener 1-1 with Ireland, finished the first
half stronger.
Sweden's John Guidetti finished a slick move by blasting
a shot from outside the box high into the stands in the 39th
minute and Giorgio Chiellini had to intervene in a goal-mouth
scramble soon after.
But there no clear chances by the end of a dull first
period in which Sweden enjoyed 59% of the possession.
Conte's side looked more determined after the break and
forward Graziano Pellè fired over the bar on 49 minutes.
The pressure did not last and Conte tried to liven things
up by bringing on Simone Zaza for Pelle on the hour mark.
Sweden's star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic remarkably
failed to strike home a cross from a metre or two out in the
72nd minute, but the effort would not have counted if it had
gone in as he was offside.
Midfielder Marco Parolo came close when he headed a
Emanuele Giaccherini cross from the left on to the crossbar in
the 82nd minute.
But the game looked headed for a draw before Eder's flash
of brilliance.
Italy winger Antonio Candreva forced a good save out of
Sweden keeper Andreas Isaksson soon after.
Sweden had a penalty shout turned down in stoppage time.
Italy face Ireland in their last group match on Wednesday.
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