Italy kick off Euro 2020 with emphatic make an impression on Turkey
Italy kicked off the European Championship in emphatic style on Friday as they delivered a commanding performance to sweep past toothless Turkey 3-0 in the Stadio Olimpico and stamp their early authority on Group A.
After a goalless first half, an own goal and strikes by Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne were just reward for the house side, who played with relentless positivity right away.
Their dispiriting failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup looked a distant memory because they stretched their unbeaten set you back 28 complements in a buoyant atmosphere.
These were helped by a set display from Turkey, who lost their fifth consecutive opening match of a European Championship finals and barely mustered an advisable attack all night.
"It was important to get started on well within Rome in fact it is a good joy for all of us and for all your Italians," explained coach Roberto Mancini.
"We produced an excellent performance and I think we satisfied everyone, for the fans and all of the Italians watching. (But) there are six video games to get and there are a lot of good teams."
Switzerland and Wales, who meet in the group's second video game in Baku on Saturday, always knew Italy were the group favourites however the size of their process has suddenly looked somewhat bigger.
STRONG START
After a build-up having a spine-tingling rendition of Nessun Dorma by opera singer Andrea Bocelli - channelling thoughts of Italia '90 - a magnificent fireworks display and a typically raucous rendition of Italy's national anthem, the 16,000-strong crowd was in okay voice by kick-off. These were provided plenty to cheer too as Italy built all the early jogging against a Turkish team pleased to sit down deep and invite pressure. However, Mancini's side were left frustrated within their efforts to break through the wall of red shirts.
Giorgio Chiellini had a good header tipped over with a magnificent one-handed save by Ugurcan Cakir and Immobile nodded a good cross wide as Italy went in at the break with 14 attempts to none from Turkey - but with out a goal.
They kept probing and their patience was rewarded when Berardi fired a cross in to the six-yard box where Demiral chested the ball into the net - the first time in a European Championship that the tournament's opening objective was an own objective.
The ever-dangerous Leonardo Spinazzola had a go beaten away and Manuel Locatelli's low effort was palmed wide before Immobile doubled Italy's lead by pouncing on Cakir's parry from another Spinazzola effort to neatly knock in the rebound.
The Azzurri's dominance was rewarded again when Immobile threaded a pass to Insigne, who located a precise finish into the bottom corner with 11 minutes remaining.
It marked the 1st time Italy had scored three goals in a good meet at the Euros at their 39th attempt and capped an ideal start.
Mancini had told his players they should enjoy themselves and seek to entertain and that was first accurately what they did for a jubilant home crowd.
There is only gloom in the visiting camp as veteran coach Senol Gunes, who led Turkey to third place at the 2002 World Cup, apologised for the performance.
"I was expecting a much better game, and I am disappointed and we are sorry," he stated. "Italy totally manipulated the game."
On June 16, Italy face Switzerland in Rome and Turkey undertake Wales in Baku in the second circular of Group A video games.
