Antonio Cassano and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mario-Balotelli-c23937 scored a goal apiece to ensure victory for Italy in their must win match against the Boys in Green, qualifying for next round.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 were victorious in last match of the group stages and several Italian players have thanked the Spaniards
for inadvertently ensuring progression of the Azzurri into the quarter finals as well.
Cassano scored from a header, as he glanced the ball past the Irish shot stopper for La Nazionale’s first goal of the match, and Mario Balotelli added the second on the 90th minute.
The tactical shift from 3-5-2 to 4-3-1-2 meant that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniele-De-Rossi-c10112 was reverted back to his preferred position of central defensive midfielder. Balotelli was left on the bench as he was still nursing an injury sustained in the
training session.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Doyle-c20719 and handing the captain’s armband to Damien Duff, stating that he would hold faith in the players who had guided Ireland to
the group stages of the European Championship.
The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Republic-of-Ireland-c2987 looked a far better side in their match against the Azzurri than they had in the matches before this. They made many enterprising runs down the wings of the Italian box, and Kevin Doyle pounced on a stray
pass from Pirlo and was unlucky not to get a shot away.
The Irish defence proved to be stubborn for the Italian attackers, as Cassano and Di Natale forced last ditch blocks and tackles from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Shay-Given-c33284 with his long range effort,
and the Irish goalkeeper looked out of place when clearing the ball for a corner kick.
Italy took the lead from the resulting corner, as Andrea Pirlo’s corner was headed into the goal by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Cassano-c6302. Damien Duff cleared the ball, but the referee awarded the goal to the Italians.
Despite the improved Irish performance, the Italians were still dominating proceedings with over 60 percent of the possession in the first half.
The second half started with the same Italian fervour with Di Natale and Cassano regularly testing the Irish defence. However, a string of free kicks for the Irish did cause panic in the Nazionale defence, but http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gianluigi-Buffon-c14833
was up to the task and dealt with the Irish onslaught.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giorgio-Chiellini-c14963 had to be substituted at the hour mark as he picked up an injury during the match.
Balotelli secured the victory for the Italians with a brilliant overhead kick in the 90th minute, to put any fears of a draw to rest.
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