A strike from Eder two minutes from the end of normal time saw Italy beat Sweden 1-0 and qualify for the round of 16. It was the second time in Italy’s history in which the national team has won the first two group games at a European Championship and the hoodoo of failing to win in the second fixture stemming back to Euro 2000 was lifted.

Photo: figc.it

It was a hard-fought win in Toulouse against an organised Sweden side even if they rarely tested Buffon. Florenzi’s arrival in the starting line-up was the only change from the opener with Belgium. The side played in a 3-5-2 formation with the Juventus defensive block in front of Buffon and the Pellé/ Eder tandem up front. Guidetti started for Sweden ahead of Berg and the coach Hamren trusted the experienced Kallstrom in midfield alongside the former Cagliari player Ekdal. There was one Ibrahimovic on the pitch and thousands in the stands wearing his yellow number ten shirt at the Stadium Municipal where there were also around 9,000 Italy fans present.

It was clear from the opening exchanges that it would not be simple as Sweden looked to defend high while Florenzi was always ready to drop back when the Azzurri were without possession. Ibrahimovic frequently dropped back into midfield to get involved in the play before making late runs into the area. In the third minute, Chiellini made an important header to clear from just in front of his own goal. It remained the biggest chance in a first half short on drama as the Azzurri made a few too many errors in their build-up play and Sweden controlled possession (60% in the first half) without posing much of a threat.

It took a shakeup at half-time for Italy to up the tempo. Candreva and Florenzi were able to push forward more often while Conte gave Zaza his tournament debut in place of Pellè after an hour. The match remained tight and Ibrahimovic continued to be Sweden’s sole threat and he had an excellent sight of goal although the assistant referee had his flag lifted. With 15 minutes left, Conte made the same change as he did in Lyon by bringing on Thiago Motta to direct play from midfield in De Rossi’s place. Hamren put fresh legs on in midfield with Dumraz and Forsberg coming on for Forsberg and Ekdal.

With nine minutes left, the match saw its first real big chance. Giaccherini crossed the ball into the area where it was met by Parolo but the crossbar denied the Lazio midfielder the joy of breaking the deadlock. The goal which secured qualification to the round of 16 then came two minutes from the end. A throw-in from Chiellini was headed on by Zaza to Eder who beat his man and cut onto his right foot before curling his third international goal into the net beyond Isaksson. If Ireland fail to beat Belgium tomorrow in Bordeaux, we will top the group without having to wait for the final fixture against Ireland on Wednesday 22th June against the Republic of Ireland.

Official squad and shirt numbers
Goalkeepers: 1 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), 13 Federico Marchetti (Lazio), 12 Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);
Defenders: 15 Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), 19 Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), 3 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), 5 Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham);
Wingers: 21 Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), 6 Antonio Candreva (Lazio),  4 Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), 2 Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), 22 Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma);
Midfielders: 16 Daniele De Rossi (Roma), 8 Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), 23 Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna),10 Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), 18 Marco Parolo (Lazio), 14 Stefano Sturaro (Juventus);
Forwards: 17 Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), 11 Ciro Immobile (Torino), 20 Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), 9 Graziano Pellè (Southampton), 7 Simone Zaza (Juventus).
*Players on stand-by: Marco Benassi (Torino), Alex Meret (Udinese), Daniele Rugani (Juventus) and Davide Zappacosta (Torino)

Staff – Head coach: Antonio Conte; team manager: Gabriele Oriali; secretary: Mauro Vladovich; assistant coaches: Angelo Alessio, Massimo Carrera, Gianluca Spinelli, Gianluca Conte and Mauro Sandreani; fitness coaches: Costantino Coratti and Paolo Bertelli; federal doctors: Enrico Castellacci and Luca Gatteschi; physiotherapists: Aldo Esposito, Alessandro Donato, Takahiro Yamamoto and Pasquale Raia.

Italy’s EURO 2016 schedule 

Friday 17th
15.00 Match: Italy vs Sweden
followed by post match Media activities – stadium and team to return to Montpellier

Saturday 18th
16.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ –

Sunday 19th
10.30 Training session – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’ –
13.00 Media activity: Press conference – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS

Monday 20th
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
13.00 Media activity: Press conference – Casa Azzurri MC
16.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS

Tuesday 21st
10.30 Training session – behind CLOSED DOORS
afternoon Team transfer to Montpellier’s Airport’
15.30 Flight departure to Lille
17.15 Scheduled arrival to Lille, transfer to the stadium
17.45 MD-1 Media activities: Press conference (Head coach/1 or 2 players) / HBs
18.30 MD-1 Official Training – OPEN TO MEDIA first 15’

Wednesday 22nd
21.00 Match: Italy vs Republic of Ireland
followed by post match Media activities – stadium and team to return to Montpellier

Source:  figc.it