Manuel Locatelli was the match winner for the hosts in the Olympic Stadium in Rome with two goals (26th, 52nd). Ciro Immobile scored in the 89th minute for the final score. In the last group game, Italy will face Wales on Sunday (6 p.m.), while Switzerland will face Turkey at the same time. Both games can be seen live on ORF1.
The Italians have not conceded a goal for ten games and have been unbeaten for 29 games with the Italian version of Tiki-Taka. With the end of the group stage, Vittorio Pozzo’s record of 30 games without a loss from 1935 to 1939 could fall in the game against Wales.
Italian offensive works
After the brilliant success against Turkey, Italy could go to work against Switzerland without pressure. Unlike the Confederates, who fell short of their own expectations in the 1-1 draw against Wales. A win would have been desirable with a view to the table. But recently the Italians not only shone as defensive artists, the offensive with Domenico Berardi, Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne also taught their opponents fear. Ultimately, Switzerland had to take note of this.
To make matters worse for Switzerland was the home strength of the Italians, who had not lost any of the previous nine games in major tournaments in the Roman Olympic Stadium. The Swiss team boss Vladmir Petkovic was warned. He did not want to hide from the Italians – on the contrary: he wanted to seek salvation in the flight forwards and therefore in the attack. It was literally easier said than done.
Host immediately on the trigger
The quiet efforts of the Confederates were nipped in the bud, the Italians, who had reached their sporting low point with the missed World Cup 2018 in Russia, were too close and close at the start of the game. Since then, things have risen sharply under coach Mancini. There were ten wins in ten European Championship qualifying games. Most recently, the Italians marched into the final tournament in the Nations League and started with three wins in the World Cup qualification.
Nevertheless, Switzerland did not hide, although the Italians were increasingly taking control of their opponents and the game. Technically well-versed and with the notorious short passing game in the forward movement, the “Squadra Azzurra” tore the game to itself, Switzerland hedged itself into attacks in their own penalty area, which did not make the task easier for Italy. Switzerland was signed off on the offensive, but under heavy pressure on the defensive.
No goal and opening goal
The supposed opening goal of the hosts by Giorgio Chiellini (19th) after a corner kick and a stab in the penalty area was not recognized by the Russian referee Sergei Karasew after a video analysis for handball.
Chiellini goal is withdrawn (19th min)
After the video analysis, the goal is not given.
This did not discourage the Italians. Seven minutes later, the doorbell really rang: After a perfect pass from Domenico Berardi, Manuel Locatelli didn’t let the fiver spoil him and the Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer no chance.
There is no Swiss reaction
The Swiss did not find the right answer – the attacks by the Petkovic team were too sluggish and transparent. Italy remained far more dangerous in counterattacks. Leonardo Spinazzola missed one of these chances (37th), while Immobile found no buyers for his pass into the empty penalty area (42nd).
A faster attack by the Swiss and the pass from Kevin Mbabu in front of the goal let the Italian defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo elegantly sand through the legs and in the goal-out (47 + 2).
Locatelli scores again
At the restart after the break, Petkovic brought Mario Gavranovic in place of the disappointing Haris Seferovic in the attack of the Swiss, while Mancini consistently aimed for the round of 16 with the same formation. The Italians found more and more space in counterattacks.
Locatelli benefited from this again, ending a counter-attack with a remarkable shot from around 20 meters to make it 2-0 (52nd). Sommer looked puzzled; he had no chance. With his third goal in the team jersey, the 23-year-old Locatelli had become the match winner for Italy.
Locatelli with the double pack (52nd min)
A wonderful flat finish puts Italy 2-0 ahead.
The rest was a matter of form for the hosts, whose goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma only had to excel once: The 22-year-old defused Steven Zuber’s (64th) chance from very close range with a brilliant save, Berardi did not get the ball into the goal in the counter attack – it was also his last action, in the 70th minute the offensive star was replaced by defender Rafael Toloi. Coach Mancini played it safe.
Immobile puts an end to it
Immobile subsequently missed two more opportunities for the Italians. In both cases he shot past the goal on the right from a good position in the penalty area (73rd, 79th). Switzerland gave up. The final offensive failed to materialize. In the end, Immobile still met – in the left corner, that apparently suited him more. For the third time, Sommer had to get behind him.
3: 0 by Immobile (88th Min)
After a few missed opportunities, Immobile hits.
Voices for the game:
Roberto Mancini (Italy team boss): “Switzerland is a strong team, we knew it was going to be a tough game, and it was. We created some chances and deserved the win. We had problems in the opening minutes, but then pushed them up and forced them to make mistakes. The guys did really well, it wasn’t easy – the second game in five days and it’s so hot. “
Vladimir Petkovic (Switzerland team boss): “A lot of things didn’t go well for us and they did for Italy. The truth lies in the middle. Congratulations to Italy, they play great football. We have to analyze it. We didn’t play a good game, but we need positive energy now, we need the team’s spirit. Today we can be disappointed, but from tomorrow we have to keep our heads up again. Three points against Turkey can bring us to the next round. “
European Football Championship, Group A, second matchday
Wednesday:
Italy – Switzerland 3: 0 (1: 0)
Rom, Stadio Olimpico, SR Karasew (RUS)
Goal sequence:
1:0 Locatelli (26.)
2:0 Locatelli (52.)
3:0 Immobile (89.)
Italy: Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini (24./Acerbi), Spinazzola – Barella (87./Cristante), Jorginho, Locatelli (86./Pessina) – Berardi (70./Toloi), Immobile, Insigne (69./ Church)
Switzerland: Sommer – Elvedi, Schär (58./Zuber), Akanji – Mbabu (58./Widmer), Freuler (84./Sow), Xhaka, Rodriguez – Shaqiri – Seferovic (46./Gavranovic), Embolo
Yellow cards: none or Gavranovic, Embolo
The Besten: Locatelli, Spinazzola, Insigne bzw. Xhaka
