Sweden on brink as late Eder strike sends Italy through

Italy are through to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 after a superb late Eder goal saw them beat Sweden 1-0 in Toulouse.

A cagey affair that saw only three shots on target, all from Italy, looked like ending in stalemate after Marco Parolo saw his header clatter back off the bar.

But with just two minutes of normal time remaining, Eder latched onto substitute Simone Zaza’s flick on, leaving Andreas Granqvist on his backside before firing into the far corner.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was kept quiet by an excellent Italian defence for the most part, but was guilty of the miss of the tournament, blazing over with the goal at his mercy at the far post although the offside flag had been raised. He wasn’t to know.

It means that Sweden must now win their remaining match against Belgium and hope other results go their way. But that victory looks highly unlikely as they have now failed to muster a single shot on target in 180 minutes of play.

Republic of Ireland and Belgium play on Saturday.

Still no shots on target for Sweden. They have now gone without a single shot on goal in 180 minutes of play in Euro 2016.

Emanuele Giaccherini (Italy) A close call between the midfielder and Chiellini’s defensive masterclass but the former edges it for a fine all-round performance.

Italy: Buffon 6, Barzagli 6, Bonucci 7, Chiellini 7, Florenzi 6, Parolo 7, De Rossi 6, Giaccherini 8, Candreva 6, Pelle 6, Eder 7. SUBS: Zaza 7, Motta 6, Sturaro 6.

Sweden: Isaksson 6, Lindelof 6, Johansson 6, Granqvist 6, Olsson 6, Larsson 6, Kallstrom 7, Ekdal 7, Forsberg 6, Ibrahimovic 6, Guidetti 6. SUBS: Durmaz 6, Lewicki 6, Berg 6.

3’ – GREAT CLEARANCE: Chiellini is in the perfect position to head clear and prevent Ibrahimovic from having a free header on goal.

73’ – MISS OF THE TOURNAMENT? Ibrahimovic somehow blazes over at the far post with the goal at his mercy. The flag was up but surely he didn’t know.

82’ – CROSSBAR! Marco Parolo clatters his header onto the bar from Giaccherini’s excellent cross.

88’ – GOAL! Italy 1-0 Sweden: Eder latches onto Zaza’s flick on to leave Andreas Granqvist on his pants before firing into the far corner.

89’ – SAVE! Isaksson parries Candreva’s drive to keep Sweden in the match.

90+3' - PENALTY CLAIM! The Swedes are furious as Granqvist goes to ground in the box and nothing is given. Nope, didn’t look like a pen.

Sweden have not had a single shot on target in 180 minutes of play at EURO 2016.

Italy join France in the round of last 16. They have survived the group phase for the sixth time in eight tournaments since the introduction of the group phase in 1980.

Italy win consecutive EURO matches for the first time since 2000, when they won four in a row.

This was the fifth match in which a goal in the last five minutes changed the outcome of the match.

Sweden, and Turkey and Albania, have been saved by the woodwork two times at EURO 2016.

The last time Italy won two consecutive EURO matches was in 2000 (4). The only other time with two successive wins was in 1988. Matches that ended in a penalty shootout are considered draws.