The Italian national team won the opening match of the European Football Championship against Turkey 3-0 (0-0). Turkish defender Mehri Demiral fired a cross from Dominico Ferradi into his own goal (53rd minute), while Ciro Immobile threw dust from close range (66th), setting Lorenzo Insign’s final point (79th). In front of 17,659 spectators at the Roman Olympic Stadium, Italy was a significantly better team, with Roberto Mancini’s team strengthening its position as one of the favorites for the European Championship.
The game started hard: Turkey left the ball to the Italians and tried to reduce the space deep in their half. Insine crossed the goal on the right (17th), and goalkeeper Urhan Sagar saved against a header from Giorgio Cielini, who brought the ball towards the goal in a corner (21st).
More than the scoring chances, many hand games were excited by the Turkish defenders, but Dutch referees Danny McKelly, ğağlar Söyüncüs (21st) and Zeki Çeliks (45th) allowed the action to continue. Sayansi had his hand on his body and Shelik was shot from close range.
Despite 14 contracts from zero, Turkey kept itself at bay at the break. But the 0-0 victory did not last long after the resumption: a sharp cross from right-hand man Dominico Ferrari into the dummy into his own goal (53rd).
Turkey now had to take more risks, the Italians used the new location: Shakir blocked a shot from Leonardo Spinozola, the immobile was right and pushed the correction to five meters (66th). At 0: 3, Sagar still helped, after a poor pass in the system, the Italians played quickly in front of the Turkish goal and scored again by insignia.
The Italians will continue in Group A against Switzerland on Wednesday, with Turkey then facing Wales. The two team opponents will play each other’s first game on Saturday (3pm, stream: Magenta TV, live ticker: SPIEGEL.de).