Belgium 0-2 Italy: EURO 2016 Group E Report

Italy topped EURO 2016’s Group E on Monday night after fending off the tournament’s top-seeded team, Belgium, 2-0 in Lyon.

Goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle either side of half-time saw Antonio Conte’s Azzurri cap off a wonderful display inside the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, silencing many doubters over their European Championship chances before kick-off.

Giaccherini is bombarded by his Italian teammates following his 32nd minute opener – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The Red Devils showcased an array of Premier League talent in Lyon; with the likes of Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini, Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard, plus Everton’s Romelu Lukaku all starting for Marc Wilmot’s team.

Meanwhile the Azzurri fielded 38-year-old legend Gianluigi Buffon between the sticks, with Sunderland’s Giaccherini, Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian and Southampton forward Pelle starring outfield.

But it was Belgium who took initiative first, with rumoured Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan twice trying his luck from distance, only to drag both efforts well wide of Buffon’s goal.

Despite Italy constantly being on the front foot and looking the most likely to break the deadlock, it took until the half-an hour mark for striker Pelle to spurn their first real chance, although his curling effort from 20 yards out didn’t have enough to beat Courtois at his far post.

Nevertheless; just three minutes later, defender Leonardo Bonucci expertly picked out a piercing run by Giaccherini beyond the Belgian’s back four from the halfway line, before the midfielder neatly controlled the ball, composed himself and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Having established an advantage, Conte’s side immediately searched for that all-important second goal, Antonio Candreva the next Italian to test Belgium shot-stopper Courtois at his near post.

But just moments later, with 36 minutes on the clock, the Azzurri really should have been two goals to the good. After Belgium failed to clear a cross convincingly, the ball fell into the path of Pelle, who surprisingly nodded his free header well wide of the mark.

Pelle sealed all three points for Italy with his stoppage time strike – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Despite neither nation making personnel changes at the interval; the Red Devils finally started to find their feet as a rapid counterattack almost bought them an equaliser.

De Bruyne threaded through striker Lukaku on 53 minutes, but Italy’s Buffon sprinted off his line well to seemingly put the Everton talisman off as his shot arrowed marginally wide of the far top corner.

Then; from the resulting goal kick, Italy immediately broke up the other end of the pitch to threaten a second goal. But fellow forward Pelle found ‘keeper Courtois in inspired form as the Chelsea man brilliantly palmed away the Southampton star’s header.

Heading into the final ten minutes, Belgian substitute Dries Mertens flashed a deflected effort wide, before fellow sub Origi got too much contact on a delightful ball in from De Bruyne to nod the ball over Buffon’s bar from close-range.

With the Red Devils fully focused on snatching a last-gasp equaliser, substitute Ciro Immobile almost wrapped up all three points for Italy with their second goal of the game, but his breakaway was halted by another decent save from Courtois.

But thankfully strike partner Pelle was on hand to bag all three points for the Azzurri in injury-time, smashing home a volley from Candreva’s chipped delivery to put the result beyond all doubt in Lyon.

Man of the Match: Leonardo Bonucci

The Juventus centre-half displayed moments of brilliance, at both ends of the pitch, to inspire Italy to an opening EURO 2016 victory.

The 29-year-old carved open the Azzurri’s opener by delivering a knockout assist from the halfway live, perfectly picking out an onrushing Giaccherini to put the Sunderland man one-on-one with Belgian ‘keeper Courtois.

Man of the Match: Bonucci – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

However, Bonucci’s goalscoring contribution wasn’t the only outstanding piece of quality displayed by the defender on the night, as the Viterbo-born star stuck to his defensive duties magnificently to deny the lively likes of Hazard, De Bruyne, Mertens and Divock Origi instigating an equaliser for the Red Devils once Belgium brought their ‘A’ game after falling behind.

What’s Next? Group E leaders Italy face Sweden in Toulouse on Friday, meanwhile Belgium go head-to-head with the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux the following day.