Italy beat Irish to reach Euro quarter-finals

Italy qualified for the Euro 2012 quarter-finals beating Ireland 2-0 in their final Group C match on Monday. The Italians took the lead in the 35th minute through a header by Antonio Cassano.

Italy qualified for the Euro 2012 quarter-finals beating Ireland 2-0 in their final Group C match here on Monday.

Italy-goalkeeper-Gianluigi-Buffon-front-and-Leonardo-Bonucci-celebrate-winning-the-Euro-2012-soccer-championship-Group-C-match-between-Italy-and-the-Republic-of-Ireland-in-Poznan-Poland-AP-Photo-Gregorio-Borgia

The Italians - who trailed Spain and Croatia by two points going into the game with the Irish having already being eliminated after two defeats - took the lead in the 35th minute through a header by Antonio Cassano.

The Irish produced a more spirited challenge than their previous two games but ended the game with just 10 men as Keith Andrews was sent off and the Italians rubbed salt into the wound as Mario Balotelli volleyed in the second.

Italy progessed in second place after Spain beat Croatia 1-0.