Italy smashes poor Turkey in the EURO 2020 opener

The Italian government has decided that the Stadio Olimpico can be filled to 25 per cent capacity, and 16 000 spectators were there to witness the Italian dominance for the whole 90 minutes. Roberto Manchini’s men played a perfect opening match in the EURO 2020 and scored three goals in front of their (mostly) own public – Italy – Turkey 3-0.

Manchini’s new-look squad scored more than 70 goals and conceded just 14 recently and were on an eight-game winning streak - including pre-tournament friendlies versus San Marino and the Czech Republic, which now turned into nine games, after they scored three more goals and kept a clean sheet. Turkey disappointed big time, as they failed to do anything. In fact, the Turks managed only three shots (one off target, two blocked) for the whole game. Not good enough for any game, yet alone against Italy, who had 24 shots.

Unlike many other tournaments, Italy finally decided to play attacking-first football and it was a joy to behold. Mancini started with a 4-3-3 formation, opting to attack from the first minute and never looked back. First half was all about the players in the white kit, but Insigne and Chiellini failed to score in the first half.

The second half look the same and Italy finally broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, when Berardi found the space on the right and without a proper option just smashed the ball which bounced of Demiral’s stomach and into the goal: 0-1.

Even the opening goal didn’t motivated Turkey well enough to do anything, so the Italian attacks continued. By the 63rd minute, Manchini’s men already had 23 shots on goal, while during that time, the Turks had only one blocked shot and one corner. Twelve minutes after the first goal, the Italians scored again. It was Spinazzola again breaking from the left, his shot was saved by Cakir, but Immobile was there to smash the ball into the net for 0-2. Roma's left back was one of the better players on the pitch, as he constantly created problems for Turkish players.

Italian superiority in this match was confirmed with a third goal in the 79th minute, when Insigne produced a lovely curling first-time finish into the far post for the final result. The other match in Group A is scheduled for Saturday, when Wales will play Switzerland.

EURO 2020

Group A

Friday

Turkey – Italy 0-3 (0-0)

/Demiral 53 (og), Immobile 65, Insigne 79/

Saturday

16:00 Wales – Switzerland