Italy 1, Sweden 0
ITA: Eder 88’
It was a goal that was out of keeping with the game. There was the ambition to make a driving run, the pace to accelerate events, the shot of unerring accuracy: all in a match devoid of goalmouth action.
It felt out of character and yet typical of Italy’s tournament. Things are going right for them.
Eder is a striker who struck once in the second half of the season after joining Inter Milan. Whereas England were able to bring on Daniel Sturridge, a scorer in the Europa League final, and Jamie Vardy, who contributed 24 in the Premier League, 24 hours earlier, the naturalised Brazilian is starting for the Azzurri.
It is a selection that has surprised some but, like many of Antonio Conte’s choices, it has been justified. When a chance belatedly came his way, he took it, and stylishly.
His supplier had a significance, too.
The replacement Simone Zaza headed the ball into Eder's path. The Juventus forward could claim an assist; so could the former Juventus manager. Conte had removed the ineffective Graziano Pelle.
He feels blessed with a golden touch right now. If the manager is match-winner, it is just as well. Italy have few others, but they are making a comparative paucity of talent go a long way. They are into the last 16, very probably as group winners.
They have found different ways to win: convincingly against Belgium, unconvincingly versus Sweden. They prospered as underdogs against the team Fifa generously rank second in the world. They were favourites against the Swedes, a status less gifted teams can often fail to exploit.
More Euro 2016
• Ian Hawkey: Giaccherinho, BBC and Antonio Conte's Juventus influence have Italy off and running
• Full coverage: Visit The National's dedicated Euro 2016 microsite
• Complete guide: Previews, fixtures, predictions and more
Italy, it seemed, would be the latest addition to the list. The temptation was to wonder what Conte could achieve with Marco Verratti's ability to pick a pass and Claudio Marchisio's driving runs. Instead, Italy are deprived of both injured midfielders. Their deputies, Emanuele Giaccherini and Marco Parolo, began inauspiciously but grew into the game. The Lazio player struck the bar after a cross from the man Bologna borrowed from Sunderland.
In an instant, an uneventful match was transformed. Yet even before then, it was apparent that Italy were beautifully choreographed, playing 3-3-4 in possession and something approaching 4-4-2 out of it. Tactical prowess can compensate for a lack of individual quality, and it did against Belgium.
But planning still requires execution. There was a case in point when Alessandro Florenzi, with a well-worked corner routine, picked out the unmarked Eder. His touch betrayed him and the chance was gone. That, it appeared, was Eder, a blunt instrument in a position where Italy required something and someone altogether sharper.
Yet Conte has a fondness for unfashionable footballers. He persevered with Eder and his faith was rewarded.
It helps, of course, that Italy can build from the most solid of bases. They have begun with back-to-back clean sheets. This was clinched without Gianluigi Buffon being required to make a save. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was marshalled in muscular fashion by Giorgio Chiellini. A series of teasing balls into the box from Kim Kallstrom were repelled.
Sweden seemed the better team for much of the first half yet Italy were never troubled. The Juventus trio of Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Chiellini, who excelled for Conte at Juventus, are proving similarly invaluable for Italy.
They amount to a team of two halves, possessing perhaps the outstanding defence in Euro 2016 but considerably less firepower than most of the major challengers. They have perhaps the outstanding manager but attackers of inferior ability, compared to their counterparts and past Italy teams alike. They are an experiment in azure, a test if a side with such marked strengths but such seeming deficiencies, can win a major tournament.
They were billed as the weakest team Italy had ever sent to a major tournament. Yet, after two games, they have already done something their predecessors failed to do at the 2010 or 2014 World Cups, Euro 1996 or Euro 2004: they have qualified from the group stages.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
