Belgium vs. Italy: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016
Italy started their UEFA Euro 2016 campaign with a 2-0 win over Belgium on Monday, frustrating the Red Devils throughout the match and doing just enough to win.
Emanuele Giaccherini gave the Italians the lead on 32 minutes, and the Azzurri bottled up Belgium before half-time—barely giving away any chances.
Belgium fared little better after the break, missing the handful of opportunities they mustered, and the Azzurri easily defended their lead. Graziano Pelle put the final score on the board in injury time.
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Italy will play Sweden in their next match on Friday, while Belgium will face Ireland on Saturday.
Per the Red Devils' official Twitter account, Marouane Fellaini started for the Belgians, while the Italians kept Simone Zaza on the bench:
Belgium controlled possession of the ball early, but Italy showed a handful of flashes, and both Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen had to deal with crosses.
Play was halted after a few minutes when Eder caught Vermaelen with an outstretched foot, but referee Mark Clattenburg decided against brandishing an early card.
Radja Nainggolan put Gianluigi Buffon to work for the first time with a low, bouncing shot, but the veteran stopper had little difficulty dealing with the effort.
Italy made a solid impression early, as they always appeared to have a man open out wide thanks to their 3-5-2 formation. Matteo Darmian in particular found success against Laurent Ciman, though the right-back also flashed his talent.
Belgium gradually started to take control of the ball more as the half wore on. Eden Hazard played a prominent role, and Nainggolan and Axel Witsel appeared in control in midfield. But Italy's defence didn't gave away space in the danger areas, and Antonio Candreva always threatened on the counter-attack.
Bleacher Report UK's Adam Digby took a look at Italy's tactical approach and wondered whether the Azzurri could keep it up:
The Red Devils' main threats came via shots from distance, with Nainggolan again trying his luck. He missed the goal by two feet with his second attempt, as did Witsel.
On the other side of the pitch, Ciman clipped Giaccherini and was lucky Clattenburg didn't point to the penalty spot. Replays showed Giaccherini appeared to slip on his outstretched leg, but there was contact.
Pelle curled a shot just wide of the goal, and Italy started to threaten more as the half wore on. Then, out of nowhere, the Azzurri took the lead. Leonardo Bonucci launched a sensational long ball that beat Belgium's high defensive line, and Giaccherini took one touch before slotting the ball past Thibaut Courtois.
BT Sport's Adam Summerton was impressed by the quality of Bonucci's delivery:
Giaccherini had not gotten a touch right and was taking a lot of heat on social media before he scored, and Football Italia were forced to eat their words:
The goal seemed to shake Belgium's confidence, and Italy nearly took full advantage shortly after. Marco Parolo did well to beat Fellaini in the air and square a ball in front of goal, but Pelle missed a sitter.
Standard Sport couldn't believe it:
Belgium's answer came soon after, but Witsel again fired off target, and Kevin De Bruyne timed a run well only to see his attempt blocked by Giorgio Chiellini.
Hazard just missed Romelu Lukaku with a cross before Clattenburg ended the first half with Italy sporting a deserved lead.
During the break, Yahoo Sport UK's Andrew Gaffney was critical of Belgium manager Marc Wilmots, who was losing the tactical battle to Antonio Conte:
Italy carried on where they left off after half-time, with Parolo finding some space out wide before Vertonghen closed him down. After the Tottenham Hotspur man produced another excellent tackle to deny Candreva, he punted the ball into the stands in frustration.
A quick counter gave the Belgians their best chance of the match. De Bruyne isolated Lukaku, but his strike past Buffon flew inches wide.
Moments later, Courtois produced a fantastic save to deny Pelle, who was given too much space inside the box. ESPN FC's David Amoyal was loving the action:
Hazard fired a shot straight at Buffon as Belgium started to push forward more, and Nainggolan nearly found Fellaini in the box with a clever lob.
De Bruyne had a golden opportunity to launch a cross into the box, but his ball sailed past everyone, illustrating the poor showing the Manchester City man put together.
The Italians lived up to their sterling defensive reputation, blocking shot after shot, but the pressure persisted. Divock Origi replaced the disappointing Lukaku with 17 minutes left to play and Belgium starting to grow desperate.
Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe was not impressed with Lukaku's showing:
Belgium substitute Dries Mertens had a shot partially blocked from a promising position, and Origi just missed the target with a header after an excellent cross from De Bruyne.
The Liverpool man almost connected with an overhead kick as well, and during the following counter, Belgium escaped when Courtois made another strong save to deny Italy sub Ciro Immobile.
The Red Devils resorted to crosses during the final 10 minutes, and Mertens nearly found a team-mate after making the back line. Origi completely missed an open header, and the ball fell to Fellaini, but he was too shocked to fire it home.
Belgium's late push amounted to nothing, and with the clock winding down, Immobile, Candreva and Pelle perfectly executed a counter.
Post-Match Reaction
Per the team's official Twitter account, Conte praised his players:
Buffon returned the favour:
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), Bonucci talked about the phenomenal pass that led to the first goal and how he and his team-mates handled Belgium's dangerous attack:
"I always did try that kind of pass and doing it regularly leads to improvement, as I've done it quite a few times at Juventus and now for Italy.
Fortunately, Giaccherini had that fantastic first touch for a great goal.
In defence, we moved really well, and with a little more clinical finishing, we could've achieved even more tonight. We were usually one pass away from sending the strikers clear on goal.
As I said, we test and retest these things over and over in training, which we do because when we get on the field, we know what we need to do.
We hope this is just the beginning, because we came here to amaze.
"
This was the perfect start to the tournament for Italy. Many doubted the four-time World Cup champions, but they showed the value of tactical superiority and veteran leadership. They're now the clear favourites to win Group E and have one leg in the next round already.
The Belgians will still like their chances of advancing, and perhaps this loss will wake up their stars, who were a collective disappointment. Wilmots' squad played with no energy or creativity, and that will have to change fast.
