An elated Italy coach Cesare Prandelli saluted his players after their 1-0 win over Slovenia on Tuesday which secured them a place at UEFA EURO 2012.

Inter Milan forward Giampaolo Pazzini came off the bench in the second half to score the only goal five minutes from time.

"It was the victory of courage," said Prandelli. "We dominated the midfield and I opted to play in the end with three strikers. "Slovenia closed themselves at the back but we only needed one goal and we got it. We had a couple of chances in the final stages of the game."

The victory has left Italy unbeaten in Group C and eight points clear of nearest rivals Serbia, who won against the Faroe Islands. The Italians have won seven of their last eight games and secured their place in next year's big event with two matches to spare.

Pazzini was thrilled with the outcome. The former Fiorentina star scored his third goal for Italy. "It's great," said Pazzini. "It's the goal that is worth qualification and it's even more beautiful because we won in Florence (the city he lived in for five years while playing for Fiorentina). We played better today than with respect to the (1-0 win over the) Faroe Islands and we got the win.

"This goal was not a message for Prandelli but for myself. I want to prove to myself that I've always been ready even if (Antonio) Cassano and (Giuseppe) Rossi have done well."