Eder sends Italy through to last 16 – Croatia, Czechs draw in flare-disrupted match

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Croatia’s Luka Modric (left), and Czech Republic’s Ladislav Krejci vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 Group D soccer match between the Czech Republic and Croatia at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, France on June 17. (AP)
Croatia’s Luka Modric (left), and Czech Republic’s Ladislav Krejci vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 Group D soccer match between the Czech Republic and Croatia at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, France on June 17. (AP)

TOULOUSE, France, June 17, (Agencies): Brazil-born striker Eder overcame an otherwise patchy performance to hit a cracking late winner in a 1-0 victory over Sweden that sent Italy into the last 16 of Euro 2016 on Friday.

Eder, playing in his first major finals for Italy after being naturalised last year, came close to being substituted by Antonio Conte after a dismal opening half up front alongside Southampton striker Graziano Pelle.

But the Inter Milan striker had the Italy bench celebrating wildly on the pitch at the Stadium de Toulouse with a well-taken 88th minute strike after running on to Simone Zaza’s header to beat Andreas Eriksson at his far post.

Italy, 2-0 winners over Belgium last week, now top Group E with six points, leaving Sweden, who had late claims for a penalty waved away, realistically needing to beat Belgium on Wednesday if they are to have any hope of making it to the knockout phase.

After a mediocre display in Sweden’s 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland, all eyes were on captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the towering striker sought to make his mark by becoming the first man to score in four editions of the competition.

But a cautious Italy restricted the former Juventus and Paris Saint Germain striker to few real chances in front of a huge army of yellow-clad Sweden fans.

They were given hope after just two minutes when Ibrahimovic rose to meet a high cross, but Giorgio Chiellini cleared with his head.

It was one of few real chances for Erik Hamren’s men in a tight first half that saw Italy strikers Pelle and Eder fail to shine on their few real forays up the park.

Italy’s formidable three-man defence meant Gianluigi Buffon had little to do until he dived to collect Kim Kallstrom’s curling shot, and the Juventus ‘keeper was happy to see Olsson’s drive whistle past the post soon after.

When Daniele De Rossi fouled Ibrahimovic in midfield, the striker got his head to Kallstrom’s 40-yard free kick but he was flagged offside.

The Azzurri broke the monotony when Candreva collected Florenzi’s cross-field ball to fire in an inviting cross, but Erik Johansson was quick to intercept.

At the other end Sweden edged closer, Sebastian Larsson chesting a long cross into the path of Celta Vigo’s John Guidetti only for the striker to skew wide.

Italy started the second half in positive fashion, Pelle controlling Eder’s cutback from a Marco Parolo through ball, but his volley dipped over the crossbar.

Parolo did well to control De Rossi’s pass and set up Candreva on the right, but the Lazio man’s drive into the area was collected by Isaksson, who got down quickly to smother moments later after another Candreva delivery.

On that occasion, Eder was well out of position but it was Pelle who was replaced on the hour, by Simone Zaza.

Minutes later, Florenzi’s high delivery across goal found Candreva at the back post, yet Isaksson again got down low to smother the Lazio man’s low first-time effort.

Italian hopes looked to be dying out and the Azzurri breathed a sigh of relief when Ibrahimovic fired over from a yard out at the back post although he was ruled offside.

Parolo raised Italian hopes on 82 minutes with a header that came off the woodwork. But it was Eder who rescued Conte’s men with a fine run that took him past the Swedish defence to fire the ball into the net with two minutes to play.

Croatia 2, Czechs 2

In Saint-Etienne, France, Czech Republic’s Tomas Necid scored a last-gasp equaliser with a penalty as they drew 2-2 with Croatia in a dramatic Euro 2016 clash that was interrupted for several minutes after flares were thrown on the pitch.

Substitute Necid converted from the spot after the Czechs had trailed 2-0 and looked to be heading towards their second defeat in Group D, while Croatia were on track for a last 16 spot after Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic scored in either half.

But a fine 76th minute glancing header from substitute Milan Skoda put the Czechs back in the game before the trouble broke out as flares rained down and Croatia fans fought each other.

After the mayhem, a handball by Croatia’s Domagoj Vida left Necid to coolly put away his spot kick to level the scores.

The Croats, on four points from two matches, have only themselves to blame after a largely one-sided encounter, although they appeared distracted by the trouble at the end. The Czechs earned their first point to stay alive.

European champions Spain, who beat the Czechs 1-0 in their first game, face Turkey in Group D later on Friday, with their opponents having lost 1-0 to Croatia in their opener.

Pavel Vrba’s Czech team were unable to break free from constant pressure for most of the match, dropping deep as the Croats, with captain Darijo Srna in the lineup after his father’s funeral, immediately taking control.

Srna, in tears when the national anthem played, managed to get his emotions under control as he orchestrated his side’s tactics which stifled the Czechs for most of the game.

Vrba had made two changes from the team that lost to Spain, bringing in forward David Lafata who was however nowhere to be seen as they failed to get a shot on target for over 50 minutes.

Croatia came close to a goal early on when striker Mario Mandzukic floated in a cross from the left with Perisic just failing to connect in front of goal.

Perisic quickly made amends for his earlier miss, pouncing on yet another Czech error in midfield and beating goalkeeper Petr Cech with a well-placed low drive into the far corner.

Croatia, promised beers by coach Ante Cacic if they won, kept up the pressure and were soon rewarded again with Ivan Rakitic slipping into the box and timing his chip perfectly to beat Cech.

However, instead of finishing off the game with several more good chances, they allowed the Czechs to stage a comeback.

Skoda’s header gave them a glimmer of hope before the game was interrupted as flares and other objects landed on the pitch behind the riot police deployed in front of the Croatia fans.

This was followed by fighting amongst the Croatia supporters as referee Mark Clattenburg took the players towards the centre of the pitch and consulted a UEFA official.

After the trouble, Croatia seemed to lose concentration and conceded the penalty which Necid kept his cool to convert for the equaliser that keeps his team’s qualification hopes alive.

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