Rampant Italy Confirm Euro Last 16 Spot
17 June, 2021
Italy became the first nation to advance to the EURO 2020 last 16 after thrashing Switzerland 3-0 on Wednesday evening.
EURO 2020
Result: Italy 3-0 Switzerland
Date: 16 June 2021
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
The Italians thought that they had got the opening goal on 19 minutes after Switzerland's failure to clear a corner allowed Giorgio Chiellini to fire home close range, but VAR intervened for a handball on the defender.
That became Chiellini's final involvement as he was forced off with an injury and replaced by Francesco Acerbi after 24 minutes.
However, Italy got the opening goal two minutes later when Domenico Berardi broke down the right flank before laying the ball on a platter for Manuel Locatelli to slot home from six-yards.
Switzerland, meanwhile, struggled to carve out clear-cut openings as Italy shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma enjoyed a comparatively quiet opening 45 minutes.
However, The Italians doubled their lead seven minutes into the break as Locatelli bagged his second goal with a strike from the edge of the box that found underneath corner.
The Swiss did have the ability to carve out a chance following the hour mark after Steven Zuber got beyond Giovanni Di Lorenzo but he was smothered by Donnarumma in the box.
Roberto Mancini rang the changes immediately after as Lorenzo Insigne and Berardi made method for Federico Chiesa and Rafael Toloi while Switzerland threw on Ruben Vargas for Xherdan Shaqiri.
Ciro Immobile wrapped up the win for the Azzurri in the 89th minute after finding the back of the web from distance for his second goal of the tournament.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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