A comfortable 3-0 win on the night helped Italy set the marker for the rest of the tournament. The Azzurri beat Turkey in their opening match of the competition, thanks to goals from Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy laid down a marker in the opening match of the 2020 UEFA Euro, as they beat dark horses Turkey, 3-0. The Azzurri were utterly dominant in all areas of the pitch and were duly rewarded for their efforts in the second half with three goals. All of their three starting forwards were involved in the goals on the night.
Italy established their dominance early and began testing the Turkish defence. Insigne went close with an effort in the early stages, but he placed his effort wide of the far post. Georginio Chiellini then tested Ugurcan Cakir in goal with a thumping header. However, the Turkish custodian turned it over the crossbar with a superb, athletic save. At the end of the first half, the shot counter stood at 14 for Mancini’s team and none for their opponents.
The breakthrough arrived in the 53rd minute of the match, and there was a fair bit of luck involved. Berardi received the ball high and wide and was allowed to drive to the byline thanks, in part, to a slip by Umut Meras. The Sassuolo attacker tried to find Immobile in the six-yard box, but his cross was inadvertently diverted into his own net by Juventus’ Merih Demiral.
Thirteen minutes later, Italy went two goals up. Berardi found Leonardo Spinazzola – later voted man of the match – inside the box. The AS Roma full-back’s shot was saved well by Cakir, but the ball rebounded into the path of Immobile, who deftly placed it into the corner. Immobile turned provider for Italy’s third goal, as the forward played an inch-perfect through ball to Insigne. The Napoli forward, who was coming inside from the left, curled it past Cakir into the corner.
A three-nil win in their opening match puts Italy well on their way to the knockout stages already. Such is the format of the tournament. Mancini’s men can confirm their place in the last 16 if they beat Switzerland in their next match. Turkey will have to beat Wales to keep their hopes of qualification alive.
