Euro 2012 Day 11 Wrap: Favorites Survive, Bendtner Draws Huge Fine
After 11 days, Euro 2012's knockout stage is finally taking shape.
Two more teams joined the continent's last eight Monday. Both rank among Europe's elite.
Spain defeated Croatia 1-0 to claim top spot in Group C, and as salvation stories go, it's hard to get any better than a last-minute goal from a man named Jesus. The defending World Cup and European champions will play the Group D runner-up in the quarterfinals.
In Monday's other game, Italy beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0. The Azzurri, who have won four World Cup titles and one European Championship, advance as Group C's second-place team. They'll play the Group D winner in the quarterfinals.
All the details await inside.
Italians Survive
1 of 7Italy needed a victory over the Republic of Ireland on Monday in order to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stage.
They got it thanks to goals from Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli.
Ireland, however, provided stiff opposition with their best performance of the tournament.
Cassano broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a glancing near-post header. Andrea Pirlo supplied the assist with a corner kick.
Balotelli (pictured), a second-half substitute, finished off Ireland with a brilliant over-the-shoulder volley in the 90th minute. Pirlo was again the provider, and again the goal came from a corner kick.
With victory secured, the Azzurri had to wait on the result of the Spain-Croatia match to discover their fate.
Spain, Too
2 of 7A man named Jesus was Spain's savior against Croatia.
Jesus Navas, a second-half substitute for Fernando Torres, scored the only goal of Spain's 1-0 victory over Croatia. The decisive goal came in the 88th minute, when Cesc Fabregas freed Andres Iniesta with a lobbed pass over the Croatian defense.
Iniesta then squared the ball across the box to Navas, who was unmarked in front of goal.
The victory gave Spain the top spot in Group C and eliminated Croatia, who had been pushing for a late winner before Navas' crucial strike.
Top-Class Stoppers
3 of 7Both Spain and Italy have veteran, world-class goalkeepers, and both made crucial saves in their group finales.
Spain's Iker Casillas (pictured) stonewalled Ivan Rakitic's powerful header in the 59th minute to keep Croatia off the score sheet. He also parried Ivan Perisic's low, angled volley toward the far post in the 79th.
Italy's Gianluigi Buffon wasn't as busy, but he was on call to stop Keith Andrews' swerving second-half shot. The move was set up by Damien Duff's back-heel pass from a set piece just outside Italy's box.
Group C Table
4 of 7The final Group C table is topped by Spain, with Vicente del Bosque's side collecting seven points from their three matches.
They will play the Group D runner-up in Donetsk, Ukraine on Saturday.
As Group C's runner-up, Italy will play the Group D winner Sunday in Kiev.
Up Next
5 of 7Group D returns to the spotlight Tuesday in the final group matches of Euro 2012.
France and Sweden play in Kiev while England and Ukraine face off in Donetsk. France, England and Ukraine are still alive for quarterfinal spots.
England's Wayne Rooney (pictured) is expected to feature for the first time after serving a two-match suspension.
Bendtner's Boxers, Revisited
6 of 7Listen up, kids. Don't flash your underpants at a major tournament.
Especially if you're endorsing an unofficial sponsor.
Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner has drawn a €100,000 fine from UEFA for an underpants-baring stunt earlier in Euro 2012. He has also received a one-match international ban, which he probably will serve during World Cup 2014 qualifying (via AFP).
Bendtner scored during Denmark's 3-2 loss to Portugal last week, and his celebration included lifting his shirt to reveal the logo of Irish bookmaker Paddy Power on the waistband of his underpants. Paddy Power is not an official sponsor of Euro 2012.
As the Daily Telegraph points out, Bendtner's fine outweighs several of UEFA's punishments for racism and fan misbehavior.
It's nice to know UEFA's priorities remain in their proper order.
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