EURO 2020 Matchday Highlights: England Reach Final After Thrilling Semis
Welcome to your Euro 2020 daily briefing, bringing you the latest match results, key statistics, and in-depth analysis from across the tournament.
We’ll keep you updated throughout Euro 2020 with all the essential information as the drama unfolds.
July 7th: England Secures Final Spot in Extra Time
In a captivating Euro 2020 semi-final clash, England overcame Denmark with a 2-1 victory in extra time, setting up a highly anticipated final against Italy. This momentous win marks England’s first appearance in a major tournament final since 1966 for men’s football.
The final showdown is scheduled for July 11th at 8:00 PM GMT (9:00 PM CET), taking place at Wembley Stadium in London.
The semi-final at Wembley Stadium saw Denmark take an early lead with a stunning free-kick from Mikkel Damsgaard in the 30th minute.
However, England responded swiftly as Denmark’s defender Simon Kjaer inadvertently scored an own goal just 9 minutes later, leveling the score at 1-1.
The match remained tied at the end of regular time, pushing the semi-final into extra time.
In the first half of extra time, England were awarded a penalty after Raheem Sterling was brought down in the box. While Harry Kane’s penalty was initially saved by Kasper Schmeichel, Kane slotted home the rebound, sending the English fans into raptures and securing their place in the Euro 2020 final.
This victory marks a historic moment for England as they reach their first-ever European Championship final since the tournament’s inception in 1960.
Historically, England had a poor record in major tournament semi-finals, having won only one out of their previous five attempts in European Championships and World Cups.
Their sole victory was in the 1966 World Cup semi-final against Portugal (2-1), which led them to win the final against West Germany and lift the trophy.
They suffered semi-final defeats in the 1990 World Cup against Germany, the 2018 World Cup against Croatia, the 1968 European Championship against Yugoslavia, and Euro 1996 against Germany.
July 6th: Italy Clinches First Final Spot
The first Euro 2020 semi-final took place at Wembley Stadium in London, pitting Italy against Spain. In a tense and tactical battle, Italy emerged victorious after a penalty shootout (4-2) following a 1-1 draw, becoming the first team to reach the final.
After a 1-1 stalemate in regular and extra time, the match went to penalties. Italy showcased composure and skill in the shootout, converting four of their penalties to Spain’s two, securing their place in the Euro 2020 final.
Italian players and fans erupted in jubilation after the penalty shootout victory, celebrating their progression to the final.
Celebrations erupted across Italy as well, with fans taking to the streets of Rome in car convoys and launching fireworks in major city squares.
The second finalist would be determined in the England vs. Denmark semi-final on Wednesday, July 7th.
July 3rd: Denmark and England Advance to Semi-Finals
The first match of the day saw Denmark face the Czech Republic in Baku, Azerbaijan. Denmark secured a 2-1 victory, becoming the third team to qualify for the semi-finals.
Man of the Match: Thomas Delaney
Denmark took an early lead in the 5th minute when Thomas Delaney powerfully headed home from a corner kick delivered by Larsen from the right wing.
Denmark extended their lead in the 42nd minute. Maehle, advancing down the left flank, delivered a precise cross that Dolberg expertly finished, putting Denmark ahead 2-0.
In the 49th minute, Coufal’s cross from the right wing found Schick in the penalty area, who skillfully struck the ball with his right foot, reducing the deficit to 2-1. However, the Czech Republic couldn’t find an equalizer, resulting in their elimination.
The second match of the day was played in Rome, Italy, between England and Ukraine. England dominated Ukraine with a 4-0 victory, reaching the European Championship semi-finals for the first time in 25 years.
Man of the Match: Harry Kane
England took the lead in the 4th minute when Sterling’s through ball found Kane, who finished clinically to make it 1-0. The first half concluded without further goals, but the second half started with another English strike.
In the 46th minute, Shaw’s free-kick delivery into the box was met by Maguire, who headed home England’s second goal.
England further extended their lead in the 50th minute, again through a header from Harry Kane, making it 3-0.
In the 63rd minute, Henderson, rising to meet Mount’s corner from the right, headed in England’s fourth goal of the match and his first ever for the national team.
The semi-final clash between Denmark and England was set for Wednesday, July 7th, at Wembley Stadium in London, kicking off at 8:00 PM GMT (9:00 PM CET).
July 2nd: Spain and Italy Secure First Semi-Final Berths
The first quarter-final of Euro 2020 saw Switzerland face Spain.
Man of the Match: Xherdan Shaqiri
In a match played in St. Petersburg, Russia, the first goal came from a Swiss own goal. In the 8th minute, Jordi Alba’s shot was deflected by Denis Zakaria, leaving Switzerland’s goalkeeper Sommer, who had been outstanding throughout the tournament, helpless.
Switzerland equalized in the 68th minute through Xherdan Shaqiri, and the score remained 1-1 through regular and extra time.
Despite Switzerland missing three penalties in the shootout, Spain only converted two, ultimately securing their place in the semi-finals.
The second quarter-final of the day in Euro 2020 featured Belgium against Italy.
Man of the Match: Leonardo Spinazzola
Played at Bayern Arena in Germany, the match saw Italy largely dominate Belgium.
Barella opened the scoring for Italy in the 31st minute.
Lorenzo Insigne extended Italy’s lead to 2-0 in the 44th minute. Just before halftime, Belgium’s forward Lukaku converted a penalty in the 45th minute, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
The second half remained goalless, and Italy advanced to the semi-finals.
Italy and Spain were set to face each other in the semi-final on Tuesday, July 6th.
June 29th: England and Ukraine Complete Quarter-Final Lineup
Man of the Match: Harry Maguire
In the Euro 2020 Round of 16, England defeated Germany 2-0 at home to advance to the quarter-finals.
The match at Wembley Stadium in London saw Raheem Sterling score England’s opening goal in the 75th minute.
Germany’s Thomas Müller missed a crucial opportunity to equalize when he went one-on-one with English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford but shot wide when the score was 1-0.
England sealed the victory in the 86th minute with a goal from Harry Kane.
Jack Grealish, who came on as a substitute for Bukayo Saka in the 69th minute, provided the assist for the second goal.
In the final Round of 16 match to determine the last quarter-finalist, Ukraine emerged victorious against Sweden. Ukraine won 2-1 with Artem Dovbyk scoring the decisive goal in the added minutes of the second half of extra time.
Germany’s exit marked their first time failing to reach the quarter-finals of a European Championship since 2004.
Notably, no team from the “group of death” (Group F), consisting of France, Portugal, Germany, and Hungary, managed to reach the quarter-finals.
June 28th: Spain Edges Croatia 5-3 in Extra Time
On a day filled with high-scoring thrillers, Spain and Switzerland emerged as quarter-finalists.
In the second match of the day, France vs. Switzerland, the scoring began with Haris Seferovic’s header in the 15th minute, putting Switzerland ahead.
After Ricardo Rodriguez missed a penalty for Switzerland, Karim Benzema scored twice in quick succession (57th and 59th minutes) to turn the scoreline 2-1 in France’s favor. Paul Pogba added a stunning goal in the 75th minute, extending France’s lead to 3-1. However, Switzerland mounted a remarkable comeback in the last 15 minutes, with another goal from Haris Seferovic and a late equalizer from Mario Gavranovic, leveling the score at 3-3. With no further goals in extra time, the match went to penalties, where Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty led to France losing the shootout 4-5, sending Switzerland to the quarter-finals to face Spain.
In the highest-scoring match of the tournament so far, Spain defeated Croatia 5-3.
Played in Copenhagen, Denmark, Croatia initially took the lead through Pedri’s own goal in the 20th minute. Spain responded strongly, with goals from Pablo Sarabia (38th minute), Cesar Azpilicueta (57th minute), and Ferran Torres (76th minute) putting them ahead 3-1. However, Croatia fought back in the final minutes, with Mislav Orsic scoring in the 85th minute and Mario Pasalic equalizing in the 90+2nd minute, forcing extra time.
In extra time, Spain regained control, with goals from Alvaro Morata in the 100th minute and Mikel Oyarzabal in the 103rd minute, securing a 5-3 victory and a place in the quarter-finals in the tournament’s highest-scoring game.
June 27th: Czech Republic and Belgium Advance to Quarter-Finals
- Netherlands 0 – 2 Czech Republic
- Belgium 1 – 0 Portugal
On the second day of the Round of 16, the Czech Republic defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in Budapest. The Netherlands were reduced to 10 men after Matthijs de Ligt was shown a red card for a handball in the 54th minute, paving the way for the Czech Republic to advance to the quarter-finals.
In Seville, Belgium edged out Portugal 1-0. Thorgan Hazard’s stunning long-range strike in the 42nd minute proved to be the decisive goal, sending Belgium to the next round.
June 26th: Denmark and Italy Reach Quarter-Finals
- Wales 0 – 4 Denmark
- Italy 2 – 1 Austria
The Euro 2020 Round of 16 matches commenced on Saturday and continued until June 29th. The winners of these matches progressed to the quarter-finals.
On the opening day, Denmark defeated Wales 4-0 in Amsterdam, while Italy overcame Austria 2-1 in London, both securing their quarter-final spots. The Italy vs. Austria match remained goalless for 90 minutes, with Italy scoring twice in extra time and Austria responding with one goal.
Denmark was set to face the winner of the Netherlands vs. Czech Republic match (played on June 27th in Budapest) in the quarter-finals on Saturday, July 3rd, in Baku.
Italy was scheduled to play the winner of the Belgium vs. Portugal match (played on June 27th in Seville) in the quarter-finals on Friday, July 2nd, in Munich.
The winners of these quarter-final matches would then advance to the semi-finals.
June 23rd: Round of 16 Competition Heats Up
The Euro 2020 group stage concluded, and the Round of 16 matchups were finalized.
The Round of 16 matches, determining the quarter-finalists, were scheduled between Saturday, June 26th, and Tuesday, June 29th. The pairings were as follows:
- June 26th (6:00 PM GMT): Wales vs. Denmark (Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam)
- June 26th (9:00 PM GMT): Italy vs. Austria (Wembley Stadium, London)
- June 27th (6:00 PM GMT): Netherlands vs. Czech Republic (Puskas Arena, Budapest)
- June 27th (9:00 PM GMT): Belgium vs. Portugal (La Cartuja Stadium, Seville)
- June 28th (6:00 PM GMT): Croatia vs. Spain (Parken Stadium, Copenhagen)
- June 28th (9:00 PM GMT): France vs. Switzerland (National Arena, Bucharest)
- June 29th (6:00 PM GMT): England vs. Germany (Wembley Stadium, London)
- June 29th (9:00 PM GMT): Sweden vs. Ukraine (Hampden Park, Glasgow)
Eight teams were eliminated from the tournament after the group stage out of the initial 24 participating nations.
The 8 countries eliminated after the group stage were:
- Turkey
- Finland
- Russia
- North Macedonia
- Scotland
- Slovakia
- Poland
- Hungary
June 22nd: England, Croatia, and Czech Republic Advance
- Group D: England 1 – 0 Czech Republic
- Group D: Scotland 1 – 3 Croatia
Three more teams secured their spots in the Euro 2020 Round of 16. From Group D, England, Croatia, and the Czech Republic progressed to the knockout stage.
England defeated the Czech Republic 1-0 in London, finishing top of Group D with 7 points.
Croatia secured second place in the group after a 3-1 victory against Scotland in Glasgow. Croatia also advanced to the Round of 16 with 4 points.
The Czech Republic finished third in the group with 4 points and also qualified for the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
In Euro 2020, the top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams, advanced to the knockout stage.
Switzerland, finishing third in Group A with 4 points, also qualified for the Round of 16, along with the Czech Republic and Ukraine from Group C, and Finland from Group B who also had 3 points.
England, as the Group D winner, was set to face the runner-up from the “group of death,” Group F, in the Round of 16 on Tuesday in London. Group F included the reigning World Cup champions France, the reigning European champions Portugal, Germany, and Hungary.
Croatia’s Round of 16 opponent on Monday would be the runner-up from Group E, which included Sweden, Slovakia, Spain, and Poland.
The Czech Republic’s opponent would be determined after the final matches in Groups E and F played later that day.
The schedule for the final group matches was as follows:
- Group E: Slovakia vs. Spain (6:00 PM GMT, Seville)
- Group E: Sweden vs. Poland (6:00 PM GMT, St. Petersburg)
- Group F: Germany vs. Hungary (9:00 PM GMT, Munich)
- Group F: Portugal vs. France (9:00 PM GMT, Budapest)
June 21st: Austria and Denmark Secure Round of 16 Berths
- Group C: Netherlands 3 – 0 North Macedonia
- Group C: Austria 1 – 0 Ukraine
- Group B: Belgium 1 – 0 Finland
- Group B: Denmark 4 – 1 Russia
In Group B, Belgium defeated Finland 1-0, finishing top of the group with 9 points and progressing to the Round of 16.
Denmark also advanced to the Round of 16 as Group B runner-up on goal difference after defeating Russia 4-1 in Copenhagen.
Earlier in Group C, Austria secured the second qualifying spot after defeating Ukraine 1-0, joining the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
The Netherlands defeated North Macedonia 3-0, finishing top of Group C.
In the Round of 16, Denmark was set to face Wales, while Austria would play against Italy.
Belgium and the Netherlands’ opponents would be two of the four best third-placed teams to advance from the group stage.
June 20th: Italy and Wales Guarantee Group Stage Exit
Italy and Wales both secured their progression from the Euro 2020 group stage.
In Group A matches, Italy defeated Wales 1-0, finishing top of the group with a perfect 9 points.
Wales finished second with 4 points and a positive goal difference. Switzerland finished third with 4 points and a negative goal difference after defeating Turkey 3-1.
Switzerland had a strong chance of qualifying for the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Turkey finished bottom of the group with 0 points.
June 18th: England and Scotland Face Off After 25 Years, Draw 0-0
- Group E: Sweden 1 – 0 Slovakia
- Group D: Croatia 1 – 1 Czech Republic
- Group D: England 0 – 0 Scotland
June 17th: Belgium and Netherlands in Round of 16, North Macedonia Eliminated
- Group C: Ukraine 2 – 1 North Macedonia
- Group B: Denmark 1 – 2 Belgium
- Group C: Netherlands 2 – 0 Austria
Ukraine vs. North Macedonia
Ukraine bounced back from their opening match defeat by defeating North Macedonia 2-1, reigniting their qualification hopes. North Macedonia, on the other hand, mathematically lost their chance of reaching the Round of 16 and were eliminated from the tournament.
UEFA Star of the Match: Andriy Yarmolenko – Ukraine
Denmark vs. Belgium
Despite conceding a goal in the second minute, Belgium rallied back with goals from Hazard and De Bruyne to defeat Denmark 2-1, securing their place in the Round of 16. Tributes and applause for Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest in their first match, resonated throughout the stadium.
UEFA Star of the Match: Romelu Lukaku – Belgium
Netherlands vs. Austria
The Netherlands defeated Austria 2-0 with goals from Depay and Dumfries, securing their qualification for the Round of 16.
UEFA Star of the Match: Denzel Dumfries
June 16th: Turkey Fails to Secure Points in Second Match
- Group A: Turkey 0 – 2 Wales
- Group A: Italy 3 – 0 Switzerland
- Group B: Finland 0 – 1 Russia
Turkey vs. Wales
UEFA Star of the Match: Gareth Bale – Wales. Turkey’s second consecutive defeat severely hampered their chances of progressing from the group stage. Turkey’s opportunity to finish in the top two of the group was eliminated, and their only remaining hope of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams rested on their final match against Switzerland. Wales significantly boosted their qualification hopes with 4 points from their first two matches.
Italy vs. Switzerland
UEFA Star of the Match: Manuel Locatelli – Italy. Italy dominated Group A with a 3-0 victory over Switzerland, securing their Round of 16 qualification with two wins in two matches. Locatelli scored twice (26th and 52nd minutes), and Immobile added a third in the 88th minute.
Finland vs. Russia
UEFA Star of the Match: Aleksei Miranchuk. In Group B, Russia edged past Finland with a single goal, entering the tight qualification race. Miranchuk scored Russia’s goal in first-half stoppage time. Belgium, Russia, and Finland all had three points each, while Denmark remained without any points. The outcome of the Belgium vs. Denmark match was poised to significantly impact the group standings.
June 15th: Portugal and France Triumph in ‘Group of Death’ Openers
- Group F: Hungary 0 – 3 Portugal
- Group F: France 1 – 0 Germany
France Secures Victory in Tough Match
UEFA Star of the Match: Paul Pogba – France
Match Statistic: Germany suffered their first-ever defeat in a European Championship opening match.
In the second match of Group F, France and Germany clashed in Munich. France emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline, courtesy of an own goal by German defender Mats Hummels in the 20th minute.
Two additional French goals were disallowed for offside.
Despite Germany’s persistent efforts to equalize, particularly in the later stages of the match, France’s midfield dominance proved decisive.
Ronaldo Breaks Records, Portugal Earns Important Win
UEFA Star of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Match Statistic: Ronaldo became the all-time top scorer in European Championship history with 11 goals.
In the opening match of the “group of death,” Group F, reigning European champions Portugal defeated Hungary 3-0 in Budapest.
Portugal dominated the match but only broke the deadlock late in the game, with Raphael Guerreiro scoring in the 84th minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo then took center stage, scoring twice (87th and 90+2nd minutes), including a penalty, to secure a comfortable victory.
With his two goals, Ronaldo surpassed Michel Platini to become the all-time leading scorer in European Championship history.
Ronaldo also became the first player to score in five different European Championship tournaments.
Portugal’s victory also made Ronaldo the player with the most wins in European Championship history.
Tournament favorites Germany and France were set to face each other later that evening in Munich.
June 14th: Scotland Loses at Home
Today’s Results:
- Scotland 0 – 2 Czech Republic
- Poland 1 – 2 Slovakia
- Spain 0 – 0 Sweden
Goalless Draw Between Spain and Sweden
Spain dominated possession and territory for almost the entire match against Sweden, but they struggled to break down Sweden’s resolute defense and find the back of the net.
Sweden focused on counter-attacks but also failed to create clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Match Statistic: Sweden failed to score in their last three European Championship matches.
UEFA Star of the Match: Victor Lindelöf
Slovakia Defeats 10-Man Poland
The Poland vs. Slovakia match saw early goals and drama. Slovakia took an early lead in controversial fashion after just 18 minutes when Robert Mak’s shot hit the post and deflected off goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into the net, credited as an own goal. Slovakia led 1-0 at halftime.
Poland equalized just 30 seconds into the second half, restoring parity to the match.
However, Grzegorz Krychowiak’s dismissal after receiving a second yellow card gave Slovakia the advantage. Milan Skriniar scored the winning goal, securing a 2-1 victory for Slovakia.
Match Statistic: For the first time in European Championship history, a goalkeeper scored an own goal.
UEFA Star of the Match: Milan Skriniar
Czech Republic Cruises to Victory with Schick’s Brace
Co-hosts Scotland suffered a disappointing start to the tournament, losing 2-0 to the Czech Republic in Glasgow.
Patrick Schick scored both goals for the Czech Republic (42nd and 52nd minutes). Schick’s first goal was a well-placed header from a cross from the right wing.
Schick’s second goal was a stunning long-range curler from near the halfway line after spotting Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall off his line. It was arguably one of the best goals of the tournament.
Match Statistic: With his two goals, Schick became the first Czech Republic player to score a brace in a European Championship match since June 2004.
UEFA Star of the Match: Patrick Schick
June 13th: England and Austria Start Tournament with Wins
Today’s Results:
- England 1 – 0 Croatia
- Austria 3 – 1 North Macedonia
- Netherlands 3 – 2 Ukraine
Netherlands Wins Highest Scoring Match So Far
The Netherlands vs. Ukraine match, which was goalless in the first half, exploded into life in the second 45 minutes with a total of five goals.
The Netherlands initially took control, scoring two quick goals, before Ukraine mounted an impressive comeback to level the score at 2-2.
However, Denzel Dumfries scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute, securing a 3-2 victory for the Netherlands.
Match Statistic: For the first time in European Championship history, a match that was goalless at halftime saw so many goals scored in the second half.
Player of the Match Denzel Dumfries: “I was able to score that goal because I believed we would win. I knew we would get chances, and I needed to be ready when that opportunity came.”
Austria Secures First-Ever Win
In Group C’s opening match, Austria defeated North Macedonia 3-1 in Bucharest.
With this victory, Austria secured their first-ever win in a European Championship tournament. Stefan Lainer opened the scoring for Austria in the 18th minute.
Euro debutants North Macedonia equalized in the 28th minute through veteran striker Goran Pandev, aged 37.
In the second half, substitute Michael Gregoritsch put Austria ahead again in the 78th minute after a period of midfield dominance.
Another substitute, Marko Arnautovic, sealed the victory for Austria in the 89th minute. With this result, Austria claimed their first-ever European Championship group stage victory.
England Wins by Single Goal
In Group D’s opening match, England hosted Croatia at Wembley Stadium in London and managed to secure a 1-0 victory.
England started strongly, with Phil Foden hitting the post in the first half.
The first half ended goalless at 0-0. England continued their strong play in the second half, and Raheem Sterling, assisted by Kalvin Phillips, scored the opening goal in the 57th minute.
No further goals were scored in the remainder of the match, and England started their Euro 2020 campaign with three points.
Jude Bellingham (17 years, 349 days), who replaced Harry Kane in the 82nd minute for England, became the youngest player to ever feature in a European Championship match.
‘Man of the Match’ Sterling told BBC Sport after the game, “It’s great to start with a win. We’ve got another game ahead of us now. It’s been a long season for me, but I was raring to go.”
The second match in Group D was scheduled between Scotland and Czech Republic in Glasgow.
June 12th: Turkey’s Group Rivals Draw
Today’s Results:
- Wales 1 – 1 Switzerland
- Denmark 0 – 1 Finland
- Belgium 3 – 0 Russia
Belgium Starts Strong
Tournament favorites Belgium comfortably won their opening match against Russia in St. Petersburg.
Russia started the match brightly, but their early control was disrupted by Romelu Lukaku’s opening goal for Belgium in the 10th minute.
Lukaku dedicated his goal celebration to his teammate Christian Eriksen, who had collapsed on the pitch earlier in the day, by shouting Eriksen’s name into the camera.
From that point, Belgium took control of the game.
Thomas Meunier, who replaced the injured Timothy Castagne, extended Belgium’s lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute.
Belgium largely controlled the game in their own half for the remainder of the match, limiting Russia’s chances.
Lukaku added his second and Belgium’s third goal in the 88th minute, capitalizing on a quick counter-attack.
Lukaku was named UEFA Man of the Match.
Finland Defeats Denmark in Resumed Match
Euro 2020’s second day was overshadowed by a tragic incident. During the Group B match between Denmark and Finland, Danish player Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch.
Eriksen received immediate medical attention on the field. Medical personnel were seen performing CPR on Eriksen for several minutes.
Eriksen’s health became a global concern, but reassuring news came from UEFA, announcing that the 29-year-old player was in the hospital and in stable condition.
The Danish Football Association also confirmed that Eriksen was conscious and undergoing further examinations in the hospital.
According to UEFA’s statement, the suspended match was resumed approximately two hours later at the request of both teams.
Finland won the match 1-0 with a goal from Joel Pohjanpalo in the 60th minute.
Wales vs. Switzerland Match Highlights
On the second day of Euro 2020, the first matches in Group A, which also includes Turkey, were completed.
Wales and Switzerland, both in Group A, faced each other in Baku, Azerbaijan. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Wales started the match surprisingly strong, controlling possession in the early stages. The first dangerous attack came in the 15th minute.
Wales star Gareth Bale’s cross found Kieffer Moore in the penalty area, whose header was brilliantly saved by Swiss goalkeeper Danny Ward for a corner.
Switzerland gradually gained control from the middle of the first half. Switzerland began to dominate possession and implement their game plan.
Switzerland’s attacking duo of Breel Embolo and Haris Seferovic, supported by Xherdan Shaqiri in midfield, started to create threats in the Wales penalty area.
Embolo’s impactful performance stood out, but Switzerland failed to convert their chances, and the first half ended 0-0.
However, Switzerland started the second half strongly, taking the lead in the 49th minute through Embolo. Switzerland then effectively pressed high and organized defensively in their own half, preventing Wales from creating scoring opportunities.
Just as the game seemed to be going Switzerland’s way, Wales equalized from a set-piece. The Swiss defense, noted for their vulnerability in aerial duels, failed to prevent Moore from rising and heading home the equalizer.
After the goal, Switzerland regained control and dominance of the match. In the 84th minute, Mario Gavranovic, who replaced Seferovic, briefly found the net. However, VAR review ruled Gavranovic offside, and the goal was disallowed. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Following the first round of matches in Group A, Italy led the group with 3 points, while Turkey was at the bottom without any points.
The next Group A matches were scheduled for Wednesday, with Turkey facing Wales in Baku and Italy playing against Switzerland in Rome.
June 11th: Poor Start for Turkey
Today’s Results:
Turkey 0 – 3 Italy
Match Summary:
Turkey had a disappointing start to their European Championship campaign. The Crescent-Stars suffered a 3-0 defeat against Italy in the tournament’s opening match.
Italy dominated the match from start to finish. Italy’s possession was 66%, while Turkey’s was only 37%. Italy had a total of 24 shots on goal, converting three, compared to Turkey’s meager three shots.
Turkey started the match in Rome with a classic defensive approach, adopting a deep defensive line and aiming to threaten Italy on counter-attacks.
Italy, on the other hand, utilized their strong midfield to control the game with short, quick passes, pinning Turkey back in their own half.
Despite Italy’s dominance in possession, they struggled to break down the Turkish defense in the first half and create numerous clear chances.
Turkey struggled to get out of their own half in the first half and failed to create any meaningful counter-attacking opportunities.
Burak Yılmaz’s isolation upfront meant Turkey posed no threat to the Italian goal, failing to register a single shot on target in the first half of a European Championship match for the first time in their history.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Italy starting the second half on the front foot.
The Turkish defense, which had exerted significant effort in the first half, began to make more mistakes in the second half.
In the 53rd minute, Domenico Berardi’s cross from the right wing, intended for Ciro Immobile, was inadvertently deflected into his own net by Merih Demiral while attempting to intercept.
This own goal marked the first time in European Championship history that the opening goal of a tournament was an own goal.
Prior to the tournament, concerns were raised about Turkey’s left flank vulnerability, and the opening goal indeed originated from that area.
After conceding, as Turkey attempted to change their game plan and commit more players forward in search of an equalizer, the already fatigued defense began to concede more space.
Italy’s most effective attacking players throughout the match, Berardi and Immobile, combined again in the 66th minute.
Berardi’s rebounded shot was followed up by Immobile, who extended Italy’s lead to 2-0.
Insigne then scored Italy’s third goal in the 79th minute, sealing the final scoreline.
Italy, traditionally known for their strong defensive approach, made a significant statement at the start of Euro 2020 with an attack-minded display.
Having never scored more than two goals in a single European Championship match before, Italy began the tournament with a three-goal performance.
Turkey, who only conceded 3 goals throughout the Euro 2020 qualifiers, conceded 3 goals in the opening match of the tournament itself.