Euro 2020: Italy 3-0 Switzerland – Manuel Locatelli scores twice in one-sided win

Italy became the first team to reach the knockout round of the European Championship with another impressive victory in Group A against Switzerland.

Roberto Mancini’s team defeated Turkey on the opening day of the tournament and, thanks to another lively performance in Rome, scored a 3-0 victory in a row.

Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored two goals, first by ending a move he started using Domenico Berardi’s darting run and cutback.

Italy’s passing and pressing were far superior to their opponents and Locatelli’s bubbly shot from the edge of the box underscored her control of the game.

The long-range drive of Lazio striker Ciro Immobile, writhing under goalkeeper Yann Sommer, completed an all-out victory late on.

Switzerland hardly threatened an Italian defensive chain, which has now played 10 games without conceding in all competitions, a run of almost 1000 minutes.

World champions France have been cited by many as pre-tournament favorites, but Italy have shown their credentials as strong contenders with two striking performances.

With a rousing interpretation of the national anthem, which was sung with enthusiasm by the players and fans at the Stadio Olimpico, they set the pace again before kick-off.

Switzerland struggled to cope with this as the Azzurri impressively expanded their unbeaten streak to 29 games, and their fierce defense and ruthless offensive play in the final third appear to need some interruption as this tournament progresses.

Before that championship Italy had never scored three goals in one game at the European Championships, but Immobiles performance means they have now achieved the feat twice in two games.

One of the Italians’ flaws was an injury to captain Giorgio Chiellini, who was excluded from handball at close range shortly before he was sent off due to a hamstring tear.

Substitute Steven Zuber had the only chance Switzerland had, but his low shot from the corner was pleasant for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Italy can top the table on Sunday with one point against Wales, who would schedule a round of 16 game against the Group C runners-up on June 26 at Wembley.

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Constellations

Italy

formation 4-3-3

21G Donnarumma

2Di Lorenzo19thBonucci3Chiellini4thSpinazzola

18thstretcher8thJorginho5Locatelli

11Berardi17thImmobile10badge

• 21G Donnarumma
• 2Di Lorenzo
• 19thBonucci
• 3ChielliniReplaced byAcerbiat the 24 ‘protocol
• 4thSpinazzola
• 18thstretcherReplaced byCristanteat the 87 ‘protocol
• 8thJorginho
• 5LocatelliReplaced byPessinaat the 86 ‘protocol
• 11BerardiReplaced byfoolat the 70 ‘protocol
• 17thImmobile
• 10badgeReplaced bychurchat the 69 ‘protocol

replacement

• 1Sirigu
• 9Belotti
• 12thPessina
• 13thEmerson
• 14thchurch
• fifteenAcerbi
• 16Cristante
• 20thBernardeschi
• 22ndBreaker
• 23Sticks
• 25thfool
• 26thMeret

Switzerland

formation 3-4-1-2

1summer

4thElvedi22ndSchär5Akanji

2Mbabu8thFreuler10Jaca13thRodriguez

23Shaqiri

9Seferovic7thpiston

• 1summer
• 4thElvedi
• 22ndSchärReplaced byTubat the 57 ‘protocol
• 5Akanji
• 2MbabuReplaced byWidmerat the 58 ‘protocol
• 8thFreulerReplaced bysowat the 84 ‘protocol
• 10Jaca
• 13thRodriguez
• 23ShaqiriReplaced byVargasat the 76 ‘protocol
• 9SeferovicReplaced byGavranovicat the 45 ‘protocolBooked at 49 minutes
• 7thpistonBooked at 79 minutes

replacement

• 3Widmer
• 6thZakaria
• 11Vargas
• 12thMvogo
• 14thTub
• fifteensow
• 16Barrel night
• 17thBenito
• 18thMehmedi
• 19thGavranovic
• 21Kobel
• 25thGenerous

Referee: Sergey Karasev

Participation: 12,445

Live text

1. Game ends, Italy 3, Switzerland 0.

2. Second half ends, Italy 3, Switzerland 0.

3. Attempt failed. Djibril Sow (Switzerland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Supported by Breel Embolo.

4. Goal! Italy 3: 0, Switzerland 0. Ciro Immobile (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left. Supported by Rafael Tolói.

5. Silvan Widmer (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

6. Foul by Federico Chiesa (Italy).

7. Replacement, Italy. Bryan Cristante is replacing Nicolò Barella.

8. Replacement, Italy. Matteo Pessina replaces Manuel Locatelli.

9. Foul by Nico Elvedi (Switzerland).

10. Federico Chiesa (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. Substitute, Switzerland. Djibril Sow replaces Remo Freuler.

12. Foul by Ciro Immobile (Italy).

13. Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

14. Offside, Switzerland. Granit Xhaka tries a through ball, but Ruben Vargas is caught offside.

15. Breel Embolo (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

16. Substitute, Switzerland. Ruben Vargas replaces Xherdan Shaqiri.

17. Attempt failed. Ciro Immobile (Italy) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Federico Chiesa with a through pass after a quick break.

18. Foul by Nicolò Barella (Italy).

19. Ricardo Rodríguez (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

20. Attempt failed. Ciro Immobile (Italy) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Supported by Leonardo Bonucci.