Spain beat Croatia 1-0 to top Euro 2012 Group C while Italy overcame Republic of Ireland 2-0 to finish second.
Substitute Jesus Navas struck late on to send the Spaniards through as group winners but only after a mighty scare against Slaven Bilic's unfortunate Croatia.
Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic both had earlier chances to break the deadlock and Croatia kept pushing deep into injury-time as they sought the equaliser that could still have sent them through as runners-up.
Resolute in defence and surging down the flanks on the counter-attack, Croatia kept Spain at bay for long periods and Vicente Del Bosque's team will be extremely relieved to have come out on top of their group.
Meanwhile Italy avoided joining Ireland on the scrapheap as Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli fired them into the quarter-finals.
The AC Milan striker headed home from Andrea Pirlo's 35th-minute corner before substitute Balotelli added a second at the death to finally kill off Ireland's brave resistance.
Fears of a stitch-up in the other match between Spain and Croatia proved completely unfounded, although the late goal for the defending champions did deny Cesare Prandelli's men top spot.
Keith Andrews was needlessly sent off in the closing stages for Ireland, whose third straight defeat suggests they have a huge rebuilding task ahead if Euro 2012 turns out to be the swansong for some of their key men.
Substitute Jesus Navas struck late on to send the Spaniards through as group winners but only after a mighty scare against Slaven Bilic's unfortunate Croatia.
Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic both had earlier chances to break the deadlock and Croatia kept pushing deep into injury-time as they sought the equaliser that could still have sent them through as runners-up.
Resolute in defence and surging down the flanks on the counter-attack, Croatia kept Spain at bay for long periods and Vicente Del Bosque's team will be extremely relieved to have come out on top of their group.
Meanwhile Italy avoided joining Ireland on the scrapheap as Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli fired them into the quarter-finals.
The AC Milan striker headed home from Andrea Pirlo's 35th-minute corner before substitute Balotelli added a second at the death to finally kill off Ireland's brave resistance.
Fears of a stitch-up in the other match between Spain and Croatia proved completely unfounded, although the late goal for the defending champions did deny Cesare Prandelli's men top spot.
Keith Andrews was needlessly sent off in the closing stages for Ireland, whose third straight defeat suggests they have a huge rebuilding task ahead if Euro 2012 turns out to be the swansong for some of their key men.