CONTE DRAWS FIRST BLOOD AS BELGIANS FLOP
ANTONIO CONTE wasn’t the only one left nursing a bloody nose here at the Stade de Lyon last night. The incoming Chelsea boss suffered his injury celebrating Emanuele Giaccherini’s opening goal. In the case of Marc Wilmots and his Belgium players, on the other hand, this was another chastening occasion on the big stage.
The wait for Belgium’s golden generation to glitter goes on. This was a familiar story for a group that continues to fail to be the sum of its parts, that fails to click. There is something missing from Wilmots’ team and it is not just the cohesion that certainly makes this Italy team so damned hard to beat.
Conte’s side were everything that Belgium were not. Resolute, passionate and together.
When Graziano Pelle fired an emphatic second goal in added time, the bench emptied and the celebrations started as if they had won Euro 2016.
More followed at the final whistle, veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon falling on his backside as he tried to swing off the crossbar. It was about the only thing the 38-year-old got wrong all night as he continues to defy time. ‘You have this alchemy between players who enjoy being together,’ said Conte. ‘The best thing for me was how everyone got involved. Everyone is pulling together and there is a great spirit in the side. ‘When supporters see players giving their all on the pitch — players willing to spill blood, sweat and tears — they really appreciate that regardless of what they have in terms of talent.’ Meanwhile, Belgium sloped off the pitch and headed for the now familiar inquest. Two years ago, they laboured to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil before making a disappointing exit. Now, their first appearance in the European Championship finals since they co-hosted the tournament in 2000 has begun in equally deflating fashion. This Group E opener was always going to be a contrast of styles between Belgium, a team ranked second in the world and committed to attacking football, and Italy, the beaten finalists four years ago and defensive misers who qualified as one of only four undefeated teams while scoring seven goals.
It went Italy’s way simply because they executed their game plan better. For all Belgium’s attacking intent, only two of their 18 goal attempts were on target.
Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne were disappointing, Romelu Lukaku largely anonymous.
Italy’s plan was clear from the start; to frustrate their opponents, primarily by using wing-backs Matteo Darmian and Antonio Candreva to counteract the threat from Hazard and De Bruyne.
Lukaku nodded on for Radja Nainggolan — reported to be a target for Conte when he takes over at Chelsea — to force Buffon into a fine save from 25 yards out.
When Italy struggled to clear their lines shortly afterwards, Marouane Fellaini again prodded the ball to Nainggolan who fired wide from a similar distance.
It took Italy half an hour to fire their first shot in anger, Pelle curling an effort harmlessly wide. But Conte’s side took a surprise lead moments later.
There seemed little danger when Leonardo Bonucci advanced over halfway but he floated a wonderful ball over the Belgium defence. It brushed the head of the despairing Toby Alderweireld and dropped to Giaccherini, the Sunderland striker on loan at Bologna last season. He killed the ball with one touch of his left foot and stroked it past Thibaut Courtois with his right.
Pelle should have extended the lead almost immediately, but the Southampton striker headed wide from Marco Parolo’s flick.
De Bruyne almost punished Italy before half time after more good work by Fellaini, but goalscorer Giaccherini made a fantastic block to keep out his shot.
Considering that Italy came out for the second half prepared to defend deep, it was a surprise when one of Belgium’s best chances came from a breakaway in the 54th minute.
Lukaku charged into acres of space unmarked and was picked out by a great pass from De Bruyne. Buffon raced off his line as the Everton striker floated his effort wide of an unguarded goal.
Italy chased and they harried, and when that didn’t worked, they just fouled. Bonucci, Eder and substitute Thiago Motta were all happy to pick up clear yellow cards from referee Mark Clattenburg.
Red shirts swarmed around the penalty box in search of a way through and an opportunity finally presented itself when De Bruyne’s cross picked out Divock Origi, but the Liverpool striker headed over.
But Italy broke again in added time. Ciro Immobile carried the ball upfield and fed Candreva on the right. He floated a cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Pelle met it with an emphatic volley.
Conte’s nose had stopped bleeding. Belgium’s troubles continue to flow unabated.