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Euro 2020 Live Updates: Italy Beats Turkey, 3-0

by Mary Sewell
Credit…Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse, via Associated Press

Euro 2020 started with a statement of intent. Technically, it began with a small car driving a soccer ball onto the field at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, but the idea of intent followed quickly. Italy’s 3-0 win against Turkey in the tournament’s opening game does not guarantee anything; this is still a young team, a work in progress that perhaps lacks the star power of France, England, and Portugal, among others. Italy came into Euro 2020 with momentum, but it was always somewhat fragile: an early setback could easily have undone three years of good work.

Instead, that momentum will have been redoubled by swatting a decent — if somewhat callow — Turkish team aside. And more broadly, it gave the competition as a whole what it needed: an entertaining, attractive opener that will hopefully set the tone for the remainder of the group stage. The structure — in which only eight teams will be eliminated at the first hurdle — incentivizes a safety-first approach; that Italy did not take one will, with any luck, set the tone for everyone else.

Euro

POSTGAME

It was important to start well, and it’s satisfying for us, the crowd, and all Italians,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini said. “It was a wonderful evening, and I hope there will be many more.

90’

Italy has subbed liberally and wants to get out with its ankles intact. Two quick yellows for Turkey prove that the last bit won’t be easy.

84’

Turkey has real goal-difference worries as it prepares for its next two group games, against Wales and Switzerland. The two group winners and the best four third-place teams will advance to the knockouts, but they’ve dug a big hole for themselves today.

79’

Goal! Insigne! That’ll do it. Italy carved up the Turks on that one after goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir passed the ball directly to an Italian beyond his penalty area. In a flash, Italy is in, sweeping the ball into the center and then out comprehensive to an open Insigne. He opens his body and buries the shot past Cakir. It’s the first time Italy has scored three in a game at the Euros. And within a minute, I signed, and Immobile, who had the second, was subbed off to rest for the next round. Job well done by both of them.

66’

GOAL! Ciro Immobile pounces on a rebound to double Italy’s lead. A poacher’s goal from an Italian poacher, and one who has scored many of them in this stadium for Lazio.

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