Italy kick off the Euros with a dominant win

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Good start for Italy

Friday night saw the start of the delayed Euro 2020 competition. Turkey played Italy in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome as a revised tournament that was supposed to be played in 12 cities but was reduced after Dublin and Bilbao announced they weren't eligible to host fans in the stadium. Hence, Seville took over from Bilbao for half of the games in Group E and St Petersberg, taking up the matches intended to be played in Dublin, overtaking the previous long-distance group from Group A, which is being played in Rome and Baku, Azerbaijan.

Mancini leading a revolution

Italy came into the tournament with high hopes after missing out on the World Cup 2 years ago but appointed former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and went undefeated in their qualifying campaign and are seen as outsiders with a chance. Meanwhile, Turkey is looking to emulate the underdog tale that followed them in Japan and South Korea in 2002 and getting to the semi-finals in Euro 2008. Italy went out with a 4-3-3 formation, and Turkey went out with a 4-1-4-1 formation. Before kickoff, they did the opening ceremony featuring Andrea Bocelli singing footballs favourite opera song Nessun Dorma. Before kickoff, a novel item with a miniature Volkswagen car brought out the match ball caught people's attention.

Italy had the first chance 2 minutes in, but the shot went wide of the goal. Then, 16 minutes in Italy thought they had a penalty shout, then Insigne had a curler that just went wide of the goal. Then Italy had a great chance from Chellini. Italy got close again from Yilmaz, and Turkey tried to make Italy pay, but the goalkeeper made an amazing save. Finally, Berardi had a chance from 25 yards, but it went high and wide. Italy had a risky moment where the ball almost rolled in off the keeper. Turkey thought they had a penalty, but the ref said no. Italy had a penalty, but the ref again said no because of how close he was to the player. Turkey's defending was being called the wall of meat.

Turkey made a quick break from a bad free-kick but made an error. Then the first goal of the tournament came in off an own goal from Mehri Demiral. Then Italy made it 2-0, courtesy of Immobile. Insigne then had a great finish to make it 3-0 and got substituted. Also, the fans have been told that they can stay in the stadium without breaking curfew. Turkey fought hard up to the end as they won a corner, but Chiellini defended hard. Italy finished the game 3-0.

The Euros are underway, and Wales start their tournament tomorrow against Switzerland in Baku. Then England kicks off their campaigns on Sunday against Croatia, and Scotland starts theirs on Monday against the Czech Republic. I'll be back with more over the tournament

KRO Mark

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