His second victory by the minimum in five days was enough for Italy to qualify for the UEFA EURO 2012 in Group C. Giampaolo Pazzini, who came off the bench, made the winning goal against Slovenia with five minutes remaining of the match in Florence.
Cesare Prandelli said before the game that he would be a dream to enter the classification at the stadium of his former club, Fiorentina. But the Italian team until the end suffered as Pazzini, another former Fiorentina's scored in the closing stages of the game at the goal line after the defense failed to clear a Slovenian center Claudio Marchisio.
Italy, which takes 605 minutes without conceding a goal in the group could have had a quieter end of the game if Giuseppe Rossi had scored at 20 seconds a good time. He avoided the offside trap after a long pass Slovenian Daniele De Rossi but Jasmin Handanovič deflected shot with his left leg.
With his cousin Samir sanctioned, the Slovenian goalkeeper would be seen as a shot by Riccardo Montolivo soon after. At 18 minutes Rossi failed again another clear chance after a pass from Antonio Cassano when he was alone with Handanovič.
On the other side of the field Dare Vršič tested Gianluigi Buffon from outside the area with a powerful shot but little place, allowing the Italian goalkeeper to clear it of fists. Buffon had to intervene again before a shot with effect from Robert Koren, but it was Italy that continued to plague his opponent with a shot from De Rossi to pass Montolivo saved on the goal line Boštjan Cesar.
After suffering to topple the well-organized defensive wall of Slovenia at the start of the second half, Italy created three great chances in a minute. Andraž Kirm prevented a goal from De Rossi on the line, then threw Handanovič reflexes to avoid another auction of AS Roma midfielder Rossi and later sent out a volley. Just when it seemed that victory was impossible Pazzini appeared to have the last word and put the Azzurri in the UEFA European Championship. Slovenia is one fourth, three points behind Serbia and hopes that in his last game, just before its Balkan neighbors on Oct. 11, still has chances of being second group.
Annex
* Serbia clings to second place
* Estonia continues to fight
* Netherlands remains unbeaten
* Bendtner set for Denmark
* Croatia amounted to leadership
* Bosnia, near the play-offs
* Young gives England victory
* Slip grave in Slovenia
* Ratings
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