Eder scored a late goal as Italy beat Sweden 1-0 to seal a place in the Euro 2016 knockout stages.
Antonio Conte's aspect went into the sport realizing that, at the same time a win would assurance their position in the knockout levels, a draw would additionally ordinarily suffice, so it used to be little shock to see the Italians sit down back and check out to shrink the space for lone Swedish hazard Zlatan Ibrahimovic to function in during a lacklustre first half.
What looked like an excellent omit via Ibrahimovic on seventy two minutes from just a yard out threatened to be the story of the sport, however the assistant referee flagged for a narrow offside decision to spare his blushes.
And, after Marco Parolo had struck the bar for Italy, the sport used to be settled with less than two minutes of average time last when Eder weaved in from the left to create space on the brink of the box and curl a shot into the bottom nook.
Italy had made simply the one change from their opening goalless draw towards Belgium, changing correct wing-back Matteo Darmian with Alessandro Florenzi, but faced with the project of breaking down a defensively organised Sweden, the Italians struggled to create something of be aware.
Sweden supervisor Erik Hamren had presented John Guidetti alongside Ibrahimovic in the opening lineup to take a look at and create some area for the Sweden captain, however possibilities have been at a top rate for both groups as the two defences shut the sport down within the opening 45 minutes.
Regardless of the close attention from the Juventus-founded Italian again three of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci, Ibrahimovic used to be still the decide on of the Sweden avid gamers earlier than the interval, and was once denied an early sight of purpose by an first-rate protecting clearance from Chiellini.
A half-hearted penalty attraction from the Sweden captain -- who last scored for his country in opposition to Denmark in November 2015, a file drought in his global profession -- after a coming in conjunction with Barzagli within the penalty field used to be the only other moment of observe in an or else uneventful first 1/2, but referee Viktor Kassai awarded the foul the other way.
The sport failed to enliven because the 2d 1/2 obtained underway, although Italy did revel in a hint of a chance after 61 minutes when Parolo picked up the ball on the counter-assault. Nevertheless, the midfielder dallied in possession and delayed his cross, enabling Kim Kallstrom to get again and deny the waiting Simone Zaza a threat to shoot from the edge of the field.
The game looked to be drifting to a stalemate, but Inter striker Eder had other strategies, deciding on up a protracted throw from Chiellini and chopping inside on to his proper foot, bending a shot around goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.
Italy face Republic of ireland at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille in their final staff recreation on Wednesday June 22, which kicks off at 9 p.M. Neighborhood time, however are already certain of a position within the round of 16 and could be guaranteed top spot if eire fail to beat Belgium on Friday evening.
Sweden are more likely to desire a win over Belgium in their final fixture on the Allianz Riviera in high-quality to growth, with that game additionally kicking off at 9 p.M. Neighborhood time.