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Euro: Italy in quarterfinal after 1-0 win over Sweden

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Eder’s late goal gave Italy a 1-0 win over Sweden on Friday at the European Championship, and a spot in the round of 16.

The Brazilian-born striker curled the ball into the bottom right corner in the 88th minute after substitute Simone Zaza headed on a long throw-in from Giorgio Chiellini.

“It was a great goal,” Eder said. “It reminds me of my first goal for Italy. It was in the qualifying stages against Bulgaria. I dummied and the ball went in and I’m delighted.

“The small details make a big difference. The fact that that goal came from a throw-in makes me even more pleased.”

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was once again kept quiet. Whenever Ibrahimovic had the ball in the middle, Italian defenders swarmed around him. The striker did have a chance in the first half but he headed a free kick wide of the near post.

Italy opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Belgium. Now with six points, it is assured of a spot in the next round no matter what happens in the team’s final Group E match against Ireland on Wednesday in Lille.

Italy coach Antonio Conte said it was a major accomplishment to have reached the knockout stages with a game to spare, especially because many had written off the side before the tournament.

Read also: Stubborn Poland hold Germany at Euro 16

“We are very pleased,” Conte said. “I think very few people would have envisaged that we would have been in the last 16 after just two matches. It’s a huge achievement. The players deserve the credit.”

Sweden has one point and will next face Belgium.

The close marking of Ibrahimovic freed up space on the left for Martin Olsson, and the fullback went close with a shot that sailed over the bar.

Ibrahimovic also managed to shoot over the bar from near the goal line, but the offside flag was up.

Italy had few chances throughout the match, although it had threatened minutes before Eder’s goal when Marco Parolo headed Emanuele Giaccherini’s cross off the crossbar.

Before the Group E match, Sweden coach Erik Hamren promised a brighter start compared to the Ireland game and his players didn’t let him down. Ibrahimovic had an early chance when Kim Kallstrom whipped in a dangerous cross from the left, but Chiellini made a headed clearance.

“Of course I’m disappointed, as are the players at this moment in time,” Hamren said. “If we look at the match, I think we played very well. We defended well, and we really succeeded in closing down the Italian players.

“It’s just toward the end of the match that we lost concentration.”

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