Eder scored a beautiful winning goal for Italy in their match with Sweden, curling home a terrific effort to secure his side’s place in the last 16 of the tournament.
A fairly dull outing between the two sides look set to play out to a 0-0 draw until the closing minutes of the game when the Italians got a throw-in on the half-way line.
A quick throw from Giorgio Chiellini was excellently flicked on by substitute Simone Zaza, and into the path of Eder.
The striker had it all to do but expertly evaded the tackles of oncoming Swedish defenders, before sending home a brilliant finish from just inside the penalty area.
The goal sent manager Antonio Conte into delirium and the Italians were able to hold on, securing their second victory of the tournament.
Antonio Conte’s men underlined their typical tournament credentials with a 2-0 win over Belgium in their opening game but turned in an insipid display against a rigid Swedish defence, which suddenly fell apart in the 88th minute to let Eder in.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic once again saw another chance to become the first man to score in four separate European Championships slip away, the former Juventus, Inter and AC Milan striker struggling to impose himself against Juve’s ‘BBC’ backline of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Indeed, Sweden have failed to register a shot on target in two games so far, and barely deserve a spot in the next round on this evidence.
With Italy now able to plot their run in the knockout stages, Belgium and Republic of Ireland will hope to seize the initiative to join them when they meet in Bordeaux on Saturday.
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