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Italy knock France out of Euro 2008

18/06/2008

An Andrea Pirlo penalty ensured Italy beat France 2-0 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the European Championships.

Pirlo converted from the spot after 26 minutes, slamming the ball into the top corner after Eric Abidal had fouled Luca Toni in an all-action first half.

And in the second half, a deflected free-kick from Daniele de Rossi sealed the win for the Italians.

Out-of-form striker Toni missed the first chance of the match when he was put through on goal after just three minutes.

The big Italian opted to volley from outside the box when he had an age to take down the ball and test Gregory Coupet in the French goal.

France's tricky started continued four minutes later when Frank Ribery was replaced with Samir Nasri after tangling with Gianluca Zambrotta.

France's half got worse after 23 minutes when Eric Abidal was harshly sent off for bringing down Toni on the penalty spot.

Pirlo took responsibility for the spot-kick and France brought on former Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong to sure up the defence taking off Nasri after barely 16 minutes on the field.

Then Toni nearly doubled the lead after Pirlo's chip through unlocked the defence but he volleyed over as the ball dropped.

Thierry Henry was the next to go close when his shot slid wide of the post after Jeremy Toulalan put him through.

Fabio Grosso then hit the post with a left-footed free-kick only for France to race to the opposite end with Stefano Perrotta going down in the area.

Pirlo then earned a yellow card for bringing down Karim Benzema, putting the influential Italian out of the quarter-final.

France came out with renewed vigour but 16 minutes into the second half the world champions enjoyed another stroke of luck.

De Rossi's low free-kick was struck with power and it took a wicked deflection off Henry's ankle, ballooning to the opposite side of Coupet's goal and burying France's hopes of qualification.

France nearly grabbed a consolation goal when Benzema's curling effort was pushed away by Gianluigi Buffon but it was Italy who will go through to meet Spain after Romania failed to beat Holland.