TURKS UNABLE TO STOP IMM
Immobile hits target to bring down Turkish wall
EURO 2020 finally kicked off a year late but Italy ensured it was well worth the wait.
Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri served up a treat in contrast to the usual dull opening game to show they will take some beating.
The superstitious Mancini likes a good omen and made Manchester City late for their 2011 FA Cup win by insisting their coach driver follow the same route to Wembley they took for the semi-final, regardless of the traffic, because he felt it was lucky.
Good fortune smiled on Mancini last night as Italy began their campaign with a win sparked by an own goal in the Olympic Stadium were they won their only Euros in 1968.
But there was nothing lucky about their second and third, strikes from Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne, to secure an opening-night win.
Although relative dark horses compared to favourites France, Belgium and England, Italy could go far. Chelsea’s Jorginho dictated their play, while Leonardo Spinazzola impressed and captain Giorgio Chiellini continues to defy time at 36.
Despite the coronavirus restrictions, UEFA still managed to put on a spectacular opening ceremony, boasting fireworks, acrobats and giant footballs in each competing nation’s colours.
There was not a dry eye when Andrea Bocelli sang Nessun Dorma to stir memories of Italia 90.
It was attack against defence and Turkey could barely get out of their own half.
But Senol Gunes’ side, who are the youngest in the tournament, defended better than Italy attacked in the first half to frustrate the Azzurri and their fans among the 16,000 crowd.
Insigne curled a shot past the far post before Immobile nodded wide in between a Chiellini header, which was brilliantly touched over by goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
Italy also had four penalty appeals rejected and the most valid was the last when the ball struck Zeki Celik’s outstretched hand.
But Mancini’s side made the breakthrough that they thoroughly deserved on 53 minutes when Domenico Berardi beat Umut Meras on the left and his cross went in off Juventus’ Merih Demiral.
Italy pushed for a second and Cakir saved well from Spinazzola and Manuel Locatelli.
But the killer blow came in the 66th minute when Cakir parried Spinazzola’s shot and Lazio striker Immobile scored from the rebound on home soil.
Turkey looked well beaten and when Cakir gave away possession, Italy pounced to score a third through Insigne in the 79th minute to kill the tie.
TURKEY (4-1-4-1): Cakir 7; Celik 7, Demiral 6, Soyuncu 6, Meras 6; Yokuslu 6 (Kahveci 64, 5); Karaman 6 (Dervisoglu 76), Tufan 5 (Ayhan 64, 5), Yazici 5 (Under 46, 6), Calhanoglu 6; Yilmaz 6.
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma 6; Florenzi 6 (Di Lorenzo 46, 6), Bonucci 6, Chiellini 7, SPINAZZOLA 8; Barella 7, Jorginho 7, Locatelli 7 (Cristante 73); Berardi 7 (Bernardeschi 85), Immobile 7 (Belotti 81), Insigne 7 (Chiesa 81).
REFEREE: Danny Makkelie (Holland) 7.