Demiral's own goal marks the perfect start for Italy - watch highlights now

Summary:

In the first European Championship game since the final in 2016 between Portugal and France in Paris (1-0 aet), Italy defeated Turkey 3-0 in Group A in the opening game in Rome in 2021.

Details:

In Turkey, coach Senol Günes relied on exactly the same starting line-up as in the last friendly before the tournament - a 2-0 win against the Republic of Moldova.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini also bet on the same formation of the 4-0 against the Czech Republic in the last test. However, in the run-up to the European Championship, Mancini had to make subsequent nominations twice because two players, Pellegrini and Sensi, were injured. Verratti, who is in the EM squad, had to take a break after a knee injury.

Cakir parries against Chiellini

Italy took the initiative from the beginning against deeply standing Turks who were lurking forward for long balls, so that a very one-sided game developed up to the end. It took almost 20 minutes until the first clear scoring chance, however, and Insigne moved quite clearly from a good position (18th). Chiellini came closest to a goal in the first half a little later after a dormant ball, Cakir skillfully parried (22nd). Even if the Azzurri had half-chances a few more times before the break and scored 14-0 shots at halftime - they lacked the last playful idea and punch to overcome the best defense of the EM qualification (only three goals conceded).