Andrea Barzagli warned Italy “have a lot more work to do,” but confessed “tension at the taboo” of their second game with Sweden.
The Azzurri hadn’t won their second match in a major tournament since Euro 2000, managing only five draws and two defeats.
It seemed to be heading that way again at Euro 2016, until Eder curled in the winner at the 88th minute.
Andrea Barzagli warned Italy “have a lot more work to do,” but confessed “tension at the taboo” of their second game with Sweden.
The Azzurri hadn’t won their second match in a major tournament since Euro 2000, managing only five draws and two defeats.
It seemed to be heading that way again at Euro 2016, until Eder curled in the winner at the 88th minute.
“We knew that the second game was a taboo for Italy and we felt the tension of that,” Barzagli told Rai Sport.
“It was a pretty ugly match decided by a moment of magic from Eder. We did what we had to do and it’s good to qualify, but we have a lot more work to do.
“The pitch was quite slow and we struggled to pass the ball around accurately. It was also hot, so many factors contributed to a first half that was not very entertaining.
“After the break we created something more and a single strike sealed it.”