POZNAN, Polonia (AP) — Italia se clasificó el lunes a los cuartos de final de la Eurocopa tras conseguir una sufrida victoria 2-0 sobre Irlanda.

Antonio Cassano y Mario Balotelli marcaron los goles azzurri.

Cassano cabeceó de espaldas al primero palo, luego de un tiro de esquina, para adelantar a Italia a los 35 minutos.

Balotelli sentenció a los 90.

Italia dominó con claridad el duelo, pero Irlanda fue siempre un rival que generó peligro.

Con cinco puntos, Italia terminó en el segundo lugar del Grupo C. El campeón vigente España, que simultáneamente le ganó 1-0 a Croacia, acabó en el primer puesto de la llave. Croacia se despidió al finalizar con cuatro unidades.

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  • Irish forward Kevin Doyle controls the b

    Irish forward Kevin Doyle controls the ball during the Euro 2012 football championships match Italy vs Republic of Ireland on June 18, 2012 at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini lays

    Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini lays on the ground after a injury during the Euro 2012 football championships match Italy vs Republic of Ireland on June 18, 2012 at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini asks

    Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini asks for medical assistance during the Euro 2012 football championships match Italy vs Republic of Ireland on June 18, 2012 at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini (R) i

    Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini (R) is injured as Italian defender Federico Balzaretti looks on during the Euro 2012 football championships match Italy vs Republic of Ireland on June 18, 2012 at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Italian forward Antonio Cassano (C) vies

    Italian forward Antonio Cassano (C) vies with Irish midfielder Damien Duff (L) and Irish midfielder Stephen Ward (R) during the Euro 2012 football championships match Italy vs Republic of Ireland on June 18, 2012 at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Irish goalkeeper Shay Given jumps to def

    Irish goalkeeper Shay Given jumps to deflect the ball during the Euro 2012 football championships match Italy vs Republic of Ireland on June 18, 2012 at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Irish forward Robbie Keane (L) vies with

    Irish forward Robbie Keane (L) vies with Italian midfielder Claudio Marchisio during the Euro 2012 football championships match Italy vs Republic of Ireland on June 18, 2012 at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Ireland's Glenn Whelan wears a black armband as he controls the ball in between Italy's Ignazio Abate, left, and Claudio Marchisio during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and the Republic of Ireland in Poznan, Poland, Monday, June 18, 2012. The Irish players wear black armbands in memory of six Catholic football fans who were killed in a pub in Loughinisland, Northern Ireland, as they watched the Republic of Ireland play Italy in the World Cup on the same day 18 years ago. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)

  • Italy's Antonio Cassano fires a shot at goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and the Republic of Ireland in Poznan, Poland, Monday, June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • Italy's Antonio Cassano fires a shot at goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and the Republic of Ireland in Poznan, Poland, Monday, June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • Italy's Antonio Cassano waves during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and the Republic of Ireland in Poznan, Poland, Monday, June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)