Turkey vs Italy Summary: 06/11/2021
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Italy got their EURO 2020 campaign off to a sensational start by comprehensively beating Turkey 3-0 in the opening match in Rome. After a cagey opening 45 minutes, the hosts took control of the game in the second half, scoring three unanswered goals.
Coach Roberto Mancini will have ultimately been delighted with the display from his men despite not quite clicking into gear in the first half. They were the better of the two sides having 64% of the possession and having 14 attempts but only three of those were on target.
They turned on the style in the second half however as they ramped up the intensity and the Italians were much more incisive in their attacking play.
The opening goal came eight minutes after the break as Turkish defender Merih Demiral inadvertently turned Domenico Berardi’s cross into his own net to open the scoring. That gave Mancini’s men a boost in confidence as they started to look rampant just as the Turkish side began to tire.
With the talented Leonardo Spinazzola impressing down the left wing, he played a key role in the second which essentially decided the game as Ciro Immobile doubled their advantage by slotting home on 66 minutes.
With Turkey forced to push forward to try to find a way back into the game, that only left more space for Italy to exploit. With just 11 minutes remaining on the clock, Immobile turned provider for Lorenzo Insigne who curled a superb effort into the far corner to seal the victory.
This was a hugely impressive performance by the Azzurri who looked threatening throughout but equally as tight defensively led by the outstanding Giorgio Chiellini. The 3-0 win represents their biggest ever victory at the European Championships and is the first time they have scored three goals in a game remarkably.
They now turn their attentions to their second group game against Switzerland next Wednesday in a game they are strongly favoured to win based on this performance. Turkey meanwhile make the trip to Baku in Azerbaijan to face Wales in a crunch game where they simply have to win.
