(Roundup)Italy, Spain into last 16 after wins
Xinhua, June 18, 2016 Adjust font size:
Eder' s goal gave Italy a 1-0 victory over Sweden and defending champions Spain' s 3-0 win helped the two powerhouses get to last 16 at Euro 2016.
The 29-year-old Brazilian-born Eder collected a pass from Zaza and danced through the Sweden defence before finishing superbly past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson in the 88th minute, which gave Italy 6 points to book a berth in the last 16.
Italy' s coach Anonio Conte said the victory has helped silence the critics in the country.
"There should be great satisfaction," he said. "There are very few who would have thought of us qualifying for the last 16 after just two games. Many were even doubting us going through and the fact we're into the last 16 after just two games is a huge satisfaction."
Striker Alvaro Morata broke the deadlock for Spain in the 34th minute with a header, and Nolito added to the lead only three minutes later.
Morata scored his second goal of the game in the 48th minute, which made himself the first team player at Euro 2016 to score more than two goals in a match.
"We showed our winning mentality and great team spirit here tonight," Spain' s midfielder Andres Iniesta said.
"It depends on ourselves how far we go here, the feelings we have are very positive at the moment," he said.
Else where, goals from Milan Skoda and Tomas Necid saved Czech Republic to draw 2-2 with Croatia a Group D match.
Croatia's Ivan Perisic opened the scoring with a low drilled finish into the far corner after collecting a long pass from Milan Badelj in 37th minute, and his teammate Ivan Rakitic, played in Barcelona, extended the lead to 2-0 in the 59th minute.
Czech Republic didn't give up and strengthened the attack. Substitute Skoda pulled a goal back for the Czechs in the 75th minute with a header, and Necid equalized by a penalty resulting from Domagoj Vida's handball. Endit