Italy use their head to go through

Cesare Prandelli’s Italy side were walking tall here last night after they booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland.

Although the Irish were already out going into this game, Prandelli feared their physical approach could cause his side problems.

And that proved to be the case early on with Ireland pressing high up the pitch before a change in Italy’s midfield saw the Azzurri take hold.

“We were playing against a very aggressive side,” said manager Prandelli. “When they got forward they tried to get it into space very quickly. We tried to overload midfield, have an extra man.

“We didn’t just want a game of ping pong. They’re two very different sides [Ireland and Italy]. Of course, when their goalkeeper punts the ball up, you’ve got to win the second ball. It’s not easy to do this. We did.”

A header from Antonio Cassano and a wonderful bicycle kick from Mario Balotelli sealed victory and a match against the Group D winners, possibly England.

Prandelli added: “We played against a side that gave everything but we were excellent.”