Italy, Spain turn on style

PARIS — Italy opened its campaign with an impressive victory over Belgium, while defending champion Spain beat the Czech Republic on a good day for the big teams at the European Championship on Monday.

Ridiculed by their own media as one of the country’s worst tournament teams, the Italian players responded with a remarkable 2-0 victory that sent the Azzurri to the top of Group E after Sweden and Ireland drew 1-1 in an earlier match.

Spain needed a late goal from Gerard Pique to beat a particularly stubborn Czech Republic 1-0.

Though the soccer finally took centre stage, Euro 2016 remains dogged by an opening weekend that witnessed drinkfuelled violence involving English and Russian fans on the streets of Marseille and the city’s stadium.

On Monday, a Marseille court convicted six English supporters and imposed prison sentences ranging from one-to-three months to five of them.

Prompted by a UEFA warning that England and Russia could be kicked out of the tournament if the violence continues, England coach Roy Hodgson and captain Wayne Rooney both made video appeals for their supporters to behave.

Tight defending and two well-taken goals were the keys to Italy’s victory in Lyon against a Belgium lineup tipped by some to win the tournament.

While the likes of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne failed to deliver, despite Belgium enjoying plenty of possession, Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle made a mockery of Italy’s underdog status.