Goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle earned Italy a vital win over Belgium in their opening game of Euro 2016 on Monday night, as fellow Group E competitors Republic of Ireland and Sweden played out a draw earlier in the day.
Sunderland reject Giaccherini scored in the first half for the excellent Italians, who withstood second half pressure from the Belgians before striking their second through Pelle with the final kick of the game.
Chelsea-bound Italian head coach Antonio Conte set up with a back three – and you’ll be seeing plenty of that at the Bridge next season, you’d expect – and for the majority of the first half, it worked a treat.
Belgium lacked width and pace down the flanks, and with the Azzurri’s set up built to naturally crowd the centre of the pitch before using their wing-backs as attacking outlets, Marc Wilmots’ side struggled to build meaningful attacks of their own.
Every player in Belgium’s starting line-up is making their debut at a EURO finals tonight. #EURO2016 #BELITA pic.twitter.com/sRzRnzSuSk
Blues target Radja Nainggolan tested Gianluigi Buffon with an early long-range effort, but the first period belonged to a tactically-superior Italian outfit. They took the lead just after the half hour through the unlikely Giaccherini, who had beaten the offside trap having been picked out wonderfully by a searching Leonardo Bonucci pass.
Southampton forward Graziano Pelle should have doubled his side’s lead before the break but could only put a seemingly simple header wide, but it was hard to argue against it – Italy were good value for their advantage.
The Red Devils stepped up their game after the break. A big chance came from a quick counter attack – created by Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne – but Romelu Lukaku fluffed his lines as he was played through on goal by the Manchester City man after a poor first touch.
Within seconds though, there could easily have been a goal at the other end, as Pelle saw another header saved well by Thibaut Courtois.
Sensing a possibly damaging defeat, Belgium ramped up the pressure in the closing stages looking for their equaliser and substitute Divock Origi saw another great chance go begging, as he diverted a header over the bar.
Belgium huffed and puffed, but ultimately couldn’t find a way through and saw the game go beyond them as Italy countered in injury time. A swift breakaway ended with Pelle smashing the ball into the net on the volley, and Belgium now find themselves bottom of Group E.
Wes Hoolahan’s wonder-strike was not enough to give the Republic of Ireland a victory in their opening Euro 2016 encounter against Sweden earlier in the day, as Sweden forced an equaliser to share the points at the Stade de France.
Ciaran Clark put into his own net in the second half after good work by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but the Irish may feel as though they could have won the game. Jeff Hendrick particularly caught the eye as he was unlucky to see a stunning shot rebound off the bar in the first half.
Sweden goalkeeper Isaksson is beaten, but Hendrick’s curling effort bounces off the bar. So close. #EURO2016 #IRLSWE pic.twitter.com/GiIH0ICovs
Ultimately though the two teams – considered among the underdogs to get out of the group – were each unable to salvage all three points from the game and must now hope for victories against either Belgium or Italy to give themselves the best possible chance of progressing to the second round.
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