U21 Euro 2007: Italy claim final Olympic spot

2008 Olympic Games Play-off
Portugal 0-0 Italy AET, Italy win 4-3 on penalties (De Goffert Stadion, Nijmegen)
Emiliano Viviano was the hero as ten-man Italy edged out Portugal in a penalty shout-out in Nijmegen to end their European Under-21 Championship campaign on a high note by claiming a place in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Both sides came into this game having won their final group games last weekend but finished third in their respective sections. Neither was able to reproduce the attacking flair they had shown in their previous matches, however, with clear chances at a premium in a tense encounter.

Italy lost Giuseppe Rossi to a second bookable offence late in the second period of normal time but held on to take the game to spot-kicks where Viviano saved from Manuel Fernandes. When Antunes placed Portugal's fifth penalty wide of the post Italy – for whom Graziano Pelle, with a nerveless chip, Riccardo Montolivo, Domenico Criscito and Raffaele Palladino all converted – could celebrate their Olympic berth.

[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]