Coach Marcello Lippi hailed 10-man Italy's determination to beat Australia 1-0 on Monday and said their winning penalty was rightly given.
Defender Marco Materazzi was sent off in the 50th minute, but substitute Francesco Totti converted a controversial penalty in stoppage-time to book them into the quarter-finals.
The turning point came when defender Fabio Grosso fell over Lucas Neill's challenge in the area.
"When in the 92nd minute, our defender headed into the area and was taken down for a nailed-on penalty, I think it was something fantastic," Lippi said.
"And Totti converted it with real skill."
Pressed about the penalty decision, Lippi said: "There were two fouls on him. He didn't go down under the first and he carried on dribbling and then sustained another clear foul.
"Why?" he asked the news conference. "Does anyone have any doubts about the penalty?"
As for his team's performance, he said: "In the first half we didn't let them have anything during open play, not even a long shot, and we had four really clear scoring chances.
"In the second half, down to 10 men against 11 we suffered -- but still gave very little away.
"There was a real desire to succeed and real determination -- plus a bit of organisation because it is not easy to defend in 10.
"It's an indescribable joy," he said of the victory. "I'm really delighted. These lads showed great heart, great character and also great quality."
Asked about Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino's failure to take those chances, he said: "The important thing is that we have gone through and that there's another opportunity for the players to take those chances."
Lippi said that Totti, who had been sidelined by injury before the finals, had been kept on the bench because he had been tired at the end of their last game.
"I assumed the rhythm in the opening stages of the game would be very high so I decided to spare him that and put him on the second half.
"And I hope that scoring such an important goal in the last minute will give him an extra boost."
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