Diego Coppola "pulled down the shutters" and helped Italy under-21s to the next stage of the Euros.
The imminent Albion signing was brought back into the Azzurrini line-up for their second game of the tournament in Slovakia.
He helped his side beat the host nation 1-0 in Trnava to secure their quarter-final spot.
They will now play Spain to decide who goes through as group winners.
Coppola, whose £8.5 million move to the Seagulls from Verona will be confirmed shortly, sat out the opening group fixture after reporting from senior squad duty the day before the tournament.
He was brought in to face Slovakia after a few days to settle with the 21s and combined with fellow centre-back Lorenzo Pirola of Olympiacos to ensure a clean sheet in an efficient Italy display.
Assessing Coppola's display, Italian sports newspaper and website Tuttosport told readers: “Brings experience and confidence to the Azzurrini's defence. In the second half he goes into a state of pause but stays afloat.
“Pirola alongside Coppola, they take the shutter together and lower it in front of Desplanches (the Italy goalkeeper).”
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Italy had to do a lot of defending in the second half but Coppola got forward to send a header goalwards from a corner. His effort was blocked as Italy appealed for handball.
Coppola has played in the middle of a back three for Verona but was part of a back four this time, operating as the right-sided centre-back.
England duo Jack Hinshelwood and James Beadle and Germany’s Brajan Gruda are all off to winning starts at the tournament as they look forward to the second round of fixtures in their group.
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