Football EM 2021: Italy beats Turkey

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The situation looks safe for Turkey - then the own goal falls to 0: 1

Photo: Matthias Balk / dpa

Scene of the game:

The European Championship opening game in Rome had already seen an own goal, and in the 79th minute there was another gift to one of the eleven host countries of this final round.

The Turkish goalkeeper, Uğurcan Çakır, struck a tee shot right into Domenico Berardi's feet and things went quickly.

Italy brought the ball back to goal and Lorenzo Insigne didn't miss the chance to increase to 3-0.

Italy had run hot, there was cheering and dancing in the stands.

Result of the game:

That was also the final score.

Italy impressively prevailed 3-0 (0-0) in the opening game against a Turkish team that was weak from the second half onwards.

The EM 2021 is now open.

Read the match report here.

The reception:

before the kick-off, balloons rose, fireworks were ignited, the Italian legend Andrea Bocelli sang in front of 17,659 spectators in the Olimpico in Rome (72,000 would fit in without Corona requirements). The first impression was that the opening celebrations of major events were not reinvented during the corona pandemic. But when the ceremony came to an end and suddenly there was loud applause through the large concrete building from real spectators, there was something like goosebumps. Football has never been gone in the past few months, but the fans - who are what make this sport special - are only back now.

With Italy's weapons:

Turkey in their own half, almost all the players behind the ball and united in the fight against the opponent - that's what it looked like most of the time. Turkish catenaccio, if you will, against Italy of all places. The Turkish selection is represented by strong defensive players at this EM, with Çağlar Söyüncü from Leicester City or Juventus professional Merih Demiral. Among other things, this block is one of the reasons why the Turkish selection is considered a secret favorite, and someone has to overcome this block first.

Warm up slowly

: Italy

struggled

with this at first. A shot by Ciro Immobile from the edge of the box just before the end of the first half - Turkey did not allow much more excitement. The Italian team started with big numbers, with eight games without conceding and a series of 27 games without defeat. Roberto Mancini took over the Squadra Azzurra in May 2018, shortly after the country missed the 2018 World Cup, amid its greatest crisis. Mancini has rebuilt the selection, modernized it. We knew that much before the start of the European Championship. Against Turkey it initially looked like this: The offensive is not yet overwhelming. However, this impression had to be corrected from the second half onwards.

Loose line:

Shortly before the break, the ball jumped to the hand of Turkish player Zeki Çelik from close range on a cross. Penalty kick? At least that's what the Italians demanded. The referee Danny Makkelie saw it differently, the player was in the barrel, the movement of the hand was obviously natural for him. The referees should have more leeway in the handball at this EM, here the interpretation already made itself felt. You can read more about rule changes around the EM here

You know each other, you help each other:

Actually, with the opening goal in the 53rd minute, it didn't

look

as if this action could result in a goal. Italy put pressure, the ball went right out to Domenico Berardi. However, with four defenders in a small space, the Turkish selection blocked any chance of passing the ball into the center. Berardi tried his luck, however, and Turkish defender Merih Demiral steered the ball into his own goal. Berardi and Demiral, they once played together at US Sassuolo Calcio in Italy, they know each other, but the own goal is unlikely to have been a friendship.

The difference:

the longer the game lasted, the clearer the difference between a secret favorite and a candidate for the title became. Turkey could not rely on its defense, the catenaccio cannot be copied - and the X-factor was missing in the attack. Actually, that should be Burak Yilmaz, after all, surprise champion with Lille in France. But the veteran was completely canceled against Italy's defensive champions Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini (admittedly, there are also weak opponents). In the end, Italy had the goalscorer you need in such duels: with the goals of Immobile and Insigne, the game was decided.

Realization of the game

: Italy is one of the title candidates at this European Championship, a first exclamation mark has now been placed behind this prognosis from before the start of the tournament. There will be even stronger opponents, that much is certain (probably Switzerland as the next group opponent), but to appear like this from the start - France, Portugal, England, Belgium or Germany will have to imitate that first.