Italy secure their progression into the Last 16 of the Euro 2016 following a 1-0 victory over Sweden in their second Group E match on Friday.
Heading into the match, Italy’s ninth European Championship tournament and their sixth in a row, since missing out on the 1992 edition in Sweden. Only twice have they failed to advance through the group stage in 1996 and 2004.
While Sweden are competing at their fifth successive European Championship, and their sixth in total, but have yet to make it past the group stage since reaching the quarter-finals at the Euro 2004.
Italy meet Sweden for the third time at the Euro tournament in Group E, the Blagult helped eliminate Italy in 2004 when Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck in a 1-1 draw.
Sweden start the match off with a good spell of possession as Norwich City defender Martin Olsson finding space on the left but saw his cross cut out in the middle, with just two minutes played.
The Swedish gained momentum going forward as they whipped another ball into the Italian box but Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini dealt well with the pressure from Zlatan Ibrahimovic to clear the ball.
Italy showed their first real sign of attack when the ball was slid forward to Alessandro Florenzi on the left, only for his effort to be blocked by Victor Lindelof in the 10th minute.
Two minutes later and the Italians showed started to settle as they worked the ball around with patience and looked for gaps in the Sweden defence.
While Sweden found it hard to create any chances going forward, they enjoyed some possession but Italy dealt with most of their attacks 29 minutes into the match.
In the 40th minute Florenzi switched play from left to right finding Antonio Candreva who’s curled cross was dealt with well by Italy to clear the ball away from danger.
Up the other end, Sebastian Larsson did well to chest a long ball down for John Guidetti, who’s half volley strike went well wide over the bar.
With three minutes until half-time and Italy found themselves in danger as Kim Kallstrom’s cross bobbled around in the box, almost falling perfectly for Ibrahimovic but Chiellini did well to intervene.
With both sides even at the half-time break, the score remained 0-0.
The second-half resumes with Graziano Pelle who did well to control the ball to get his shot away but his volleys went well over the bar.
Italy showed their first sign of attack in the 56th minute as Pelle flicked the ball on for Candreva who crossed the ball into the box, but too close to Andreas Isaksson.
Olsson curled a brilliant ball into the box, Larsson stretched but just can’t reach and then Ibrahimovic somehow hit it over the bar from two yards out, only to be judged offside.
The best chance of the match fell to Marco Parolo who headed his effort against the bar in the 82nd minute.
Italy finally broke the deadlock with two minutes remaining as Eder did brilliantly to sprint past a couple of defenders, sending his effort curling past Isaksson.
Italy produced another shot at goal in quick succession as Thiago Motta fired a ball at goal from a tight angle but the Swedish keeper did well to save it.
The Azzurri held on to keep their third successive clean sheets to win the match 1-0 at the final whistle.
