Italy kicked off Euro 2020 in spectacular fashion with a convincing 3-0 victory over Turkey in front of a passionate crowd in Rome.
Robert Mancini's side have gone into the tournament as dark horses but will certainly have garnered plenty of intrigue and respect following the manner in which they easily dismantled Turkey.
DCR
Türkiye
Turkey were truly terrible at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday evening and no player perhaps summed that up as well as central defender Merih Demiral.
Like his team, Demiral looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights for much of the match and when an opposing player darted to the byline and fired a ball across the Turkish goal the Juventus defender was unfortunately in the wrong position and watched it clumsily bounce off him and into the back of the net.
A game that the entire nation of Turkey and Demiral in particular will want to forget in a hurry.
Like his team, Demiral looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights for much of the match and when an opposing player darted to the byline and fired a ball across the Turkish goal the Juventus defender was unfortunately in the wrong position and watched it clumsily bounce off him and into the back of the net.
A game that the entire nation of Turkey and Demiral in particular will want to forget in a hurry.
AML
Italy
Going into the tournament many Italian fans feared the team looked good in defence and midfield but lacked that killer talent up front to finish off the team’s dominance across the park.
Fortunately, Ciro Immobile was on hand to disperse any concerns in the opening game as he curled home a wonderful goal shortly after the hour mark to double Italy’s lead and confirm all three points for his nation.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Lazio striker then received the ballon the edge of the box and with some quick feet managed to set up Lorenzo Insigne in the 80th minute to make it three for the Italians.
Fortunately, Ciro Immobile was on hand to disperse any concerns in the opening game as he curled home a wonderful goal shortly after the hour mark to double Italy’s lead and confirm all three points for his nation.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Lazio striker then received the ballon the edge of the box and with some quick feet managed to set up Lorenzo Insigne in the 80th minute to make it three for the Italians.
DL
Italy
While the old stereotype of the Italian national team may have them pegged as a dull, defensive side, this modern incarnation of the Azzurri is quick, attacking and hard to stop when they bomb forward in waves.
Perhaps the most obvious example of that gung-ho attitude came in the form of Leonardo Spinazzola. Despite being a right-footed defender, the left wing-back was rarely seen in his own half as he joined one attack after another.
The defender eventually got a reward for his hard work when he fired the ball into the box in the 66th minute to set up Immobile for the second goal. A superb performance from the defender.
Perhaps the most obvious example of that gung-ho attitude came in the form of Leonardo Spinazzola. Despite being a right-footed defender, the left wing-back was rarely seen in his own half as he joined one attack after another.
The defender eventually got a reward for his hard work when he fired the ball into the box in the 66th minute to set up Immobile for the second goal. A superb performance from the defender.
