CLINICAL ITALY GET PAST TURKEY 3-0 IN EURO OPENER

ROME: Italy kicked off the European Championship in emphatic style on Friday as they delivered a commanding performance to sweep past toothless Turkey 3-0 in the Stadio Olimpico and stamp their early authority on Group A.

After a goalless first half, an own goal and strikes by Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne were just reward for the home side, who played with relentless positivity from the start.

Their dispiriting failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup looked a distant memory as they stretched their unbeaten run to 28 matches in a buoyant atmosphere. They were helped by a flat display from the Turkish men, who lost their fifth consecutive opening match of a European Championship finals and barely mustered a worthwhile attack on the field.

“It was important to start well in Rome and I think it’s a satisfaction for the public and for Italians,” said Mancini.

“There was a lot of help from the crowd. It was a beautiful evening, I hope there are many others, but there are still six more for Wembley.”

“We were hoping for another result, but Italy was dominant,” said Turkey coach Senol Gunes.

“The first goal changed things in the second half and we lost control of the game.”

There was a party atmosphere, with a spectacular sound and light show and firework display before kick-off for the opening of the month-long 24-team event, which will be played across 11 countries amid the pandemic.

TV timings: England v Croatia, 6.30pm, Austria v North Macedonia,

Netherlands v Ukraine,

(Mon); live on Sony Ten 1, 2, 3 & 4 & HD