Italy see off battling Austria to become listed on Denmark in Euro 2020 quarters
Italy overcame stubborn Austria 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley on Saturday to attain the Euro 2020 quarter-finals as Denmark breezed through by hammering Wales 4-0.
Roberto Mancini's side, who earned rave reviews after their cruise through the group phase, were designed to work hard because of their win and had super subs Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina to thank.
The victory means Italy have finally set a fresh record of 31 matches unbeaten, surpassing the mark set under two-time World Cup-winning coach Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.
Italy's fans gave a rousing rendition of their national anthem and were the more enterprising team in the first half but Austria came back strongly after the break and cursed a VAR decision to rule out a goal for Marko Arnautovic 20 minutes in to the second half.
Despite multiple attempts on goal from both sides, these were locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes in London.
But Chiesa made the key breakthrough 5 minutes into extra-time and another goal from Pessina gave Italy a two-goal cushion.
There was still time for late drama when Austria's Sasa Kalajdzic pulled an objective back but Italy progress and can play the winners of Sunday's tie between Belgium and holders Portugal.
Mancini, who has rebuilt the Azzurri after their humiliating failure to be eligible for the 2018 World Cup, said his side "deserved" the result.
"In the first half we're able to have scored several goals and then after the break we dropped off physically," he told Italy's public broadcaster RAI.
"We won because of the players who came on with the proper mindset and resolved the situation. I knew it might be hard, maybe a lot more so than in the quarter-finals."
- Emotional win for Denmark -
Earlier, Denmark eased into the quarter-finals with a 4-0 make an impression on Wales in Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Arena because of two goals from Kasper Dolberg's and late goals from Joakim Maehle and Martin Braithwaite.
The Danes, carried by a wave of emotion, will be the neutrals' favourites after overcoming the trauma of Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest within their opening game.
They will face holland or Czech Republic in the quarter-finals after winning a knockout tie at the European Championship for the very first time since they stunned the continent by winning the tournament in 1992.
It is exactly 29 years since Denmark defeated Germany in the ultimate in Gothenburg having famously only qualified because war-torn Yugoslavia disintegrated.
"It really is hard to assume that this is reality," said coach Kasper Hjulmand. "Johan Cruyff is one of my great inspirations which was also Christian's first home after leaving Denmark.
"I am really grateful for all your support we got, and the people are true warriors. Being in the quarter-finals now could be amazing."
Wales, surprise semi-finalists at Euro 2016, found a lot of the stadium filled by Danish supporters, with fans barred from entering holland from Britain because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Robert Page's side made a promising start as Gareth Bale drilled just wide from distance, but Dolberg curled Denmark ahead with a sumptuous strike shortly prior to the half hour.
The Nice forward, brought in to the team as a replacement for Yussuf Poulsen, then pounced on an unhealthy clearance by Neco Williams to fire home another just after half-time.
Maehle added a third goal for Denmark two minutes from time before Harry Wilson was sent off for a lazy challenge on the Atalanta player.
Braithwaite rubbed further salt into Welsh wounds with a fourth goal in stoppage time as Denmark became the first team in European Championship history to score four in successive matches.
"We tried to play in the next half but made a blunder to concede which killed the momentum on our side," said Wales and Real Madrid forward Bale.
"To finish how exactly we did is disappointing... the boys are frustrated and angry, but I'd rather we go out like this, kicking and screaming, than laying off and doing nothing."
