NATIONS - Euro 2020: Italy, the great beauty

In a rather one-sided match between Italy and Switzerland, it was the Azzurri who deservedly came out on top with a 3-0 win over the Swiss.

Italy's demeanor was the same as the one seen against Turkey in the first game, with the Italians coming out aggressively from the get go, pressing Switzerland high on the pitch while trying to induce the Swiss in making a mistake. Italy controlled the play and the ball easily in the first half, with the Swiss trying to hit on the counter. It was the Azzurri who struck first, only apparently though, as Giorgio Chiellini's effort from close range to beat Sommer after a rebound in the 19th minute was disallowed due to a hand ball. The Italy captain would have to leave the field only 5 minutes later, as an injury KO'd the aging center-back. Italy's goal was only a matter of time, and it came courtesy of Manuel Locatelli, who slotted home the easiest of chances after an assist from the right hand side by Berardi, finalizing a wonderful passage of play by Italy. Spinazzola and Insigne each had an opportunity to make it 2-0, but they squandered them just before half-time.

The beginning of the second half saw the Swiss trying to press Italy high, trying to force a mistake by the Italians, but the Azzurri one touch play was able to almost always jump the first line of pressure and find space in behind with Berardi and Immobile. It is in this manner, from a ball stolen high upfield by Barella, that Locatelli found a brace with a great shot from the outside of the box in the 52nd minute, with Sommer that could only watch as the ball found the back of the net. Switzerland's only real chance came in the 64th minute, when Zuber got past Di Lorenzo down the left flank and tried a shot that Donnarumma saved twice after a rebound had invited a second shot by Zuber.  Italy had another couple of chances with Insigne and Immobile go by the wayside, and it was the Lazio forward who finally secured the result for Mancini's men in the 89th minute with a great strike in the bottom right corner that Sommer could only just touch on his dive but to no avail. 

Italy have now secured their place in the last 16, the first team at Euro 2020 to do so, as Mancini's unbeaten streak reaches 29 in the process. The Azzurri will play Wales next with the group's first place on the line, while Switzerland and Turkey will face off as they try to avoid elimination and get in as one of the 4 third place sides that will qualify to the next round.