Belgium 0-2 ItalyAway team scorersEmanuele Giaccherini 32
Graziano Pelle 90 +1:59
Written off and vilified before a ball had been kicked; resolute and victorious once the games begin. Italy, we have been here before. Antonio Conte may have inherited the least distinguished squad in the Azzurri’s rich history, according to many back home, but Chelsea’s manager-to-be oversaw a deeply impressive win over a Belgium team that cannot figure the sum of its many gifted parts. Where Marc Wilmots continues to deliver underwhelming displays and results with the finest players Belgium have produced, Conte worked in stark contrast to organise a spirited, clinical side. It was an Italian victory that also resonated in Sunderland and Southampton. Emanuele Giaccherini, who endured a miserable time at the Stadium of Light following a £6m move from Juventus, and Graziano Pellè were the goalscorers but this was a result produced by a superb collective effort.
Thunder, torrential rain and chaotic organisation welcomed supporters to the otherwise impressive Stade de Lyon but could not dampen enthusiasm for a collision of European football’s grandees. That title may be historical in Italy’s case, and based purely on the individual talent in the Belgium side, not their collective or past accomplishments, and is one both countries are seeking to justify at this European Championship.
Contrary to pre-match expectations, only Italy had taken a step on that path by half-time. The story of the first half was reflected in the noise of the crowd. Belgium dominated the start in terms of noise and numbers, sportingly applauding the Italian national anthem before kick-off, but were silent as the Italians roared Conte’s players from the pitch at the interval.
Belgium had flattered to deceive once again, although it was less another example of Wilmots utilising the quality at his disposal and more Italy’s perfectly executed game-plan that was responsible.
Eden Hazard, Marouane Fellaini and Radja Nainggolan started purposefully as they went in search of Belgium’s first competitive victory over Italy since 1972. Their build-up had been beset by defensive issues, the coach unhappy at the ability of his full-backs and having lost Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Lombaerts to injury, but Romelu Lukaku’s return to form served as a counter-balance. The Everton striker, for now at least, has not scored a competitive goal for his country since the 2014 World Cup but four goals in the three warm-up friendlies gave him the nod over Divock Origi and Christian Benteke. Worries over the defence would prove prescient, however.
Belgium created the game’s first opening when Lukaku and Fellaini combined to tee up Nainggolan for a 25-yard drive that Gianluigi Buffon pushed away low to his left. The 38-year Italy goalkeeper was making his 157th appearance for his country and his appearance here made him the first European to appear in eight consecutive major international tournaments.
He would be well protected by a three-man central defence of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini as the Italians stifled Belgium’s attempts to find a route in behind or through the air. Italy may have had a penalty when the Belgium right-back Laurant Ciman, naturally a central defender, caught Giaccherini just inside the area as they raced to the byline. The Sunderland misfit was incandescent as the referee, Mark Clattenburg, dismissed his appeals for a spot-kick but was soon delirious as he opened the scoring in exquisite fashion.
The breakthrough was simple in creation but brilliant in execution. Bonucci sprayed a superb ball over the Belgium defence from the half-way line. Giaccherini sprinted into the gap between Toby Alderweireld and Ciman and, when the Tottenham Hotspur player badly misjudged his jump, the striker who spent last season on loan at Bologna controlled magnificently with his left foot before tucking the ball beyond Thibaut Courtois with his right.
The goal will have stunned Sunderland fans as well as the Azzurri. It also resulted in Conte cutting his face while celebrating and left the next Chelsea manager bleeding for the remainder of the half. Giaccherini endured a miserable season at the Stadium of Light before returning to Serie A on loan and, with only 12 months remaining on his contract with the Premier League club, he is the subject of a proposed permanent £2m transfer to Torino this summer. The price may just have risen.
Italy should have been in dreamland moments later when Belgium abandoned their defensive duties once again. The impressive Antonio Candreva forced Courtois into evasive action with a left-footed drive from 25 yards. From the resulting corner Belgium were fortunate to clear having vacated the six-yard area where no Italian forward thought to attack. From the following corner, Fellaini made a mess of his clearance and when Marco Parolo headed across goal to Pellè, the Southampton striker was left with only the goalkeeper to beat. He glanced a header wide of both Courtois and the goal instead.
Fellaini pierced the Italy defence with a reverse pass into Kevin De Bruyne, whose effort was blocked, but Belgium’s final ball was too often wayward. When Belgium finally released Lukaku through on Buffon’s goal, the forward’s finish was similarly poor. De Bruyne sent Lukaku clear with a cutting crossfield pass and Buffon misjudged his angles to present the striker with a view of an open goal. He missed it with an over-hit, misdirected finish over the bar.
Wilmots deployed all his attacking options in search of an equaliser but it was Italy who struck on the counter attack in the final minute, Candreva crossing for Pellè to volley home from close range and prompt Buffon to race the length of the field in celebration.
Guardian
