Italy’s Dominant 3-0 Victory Over Turkey in Euro 2020 Opener: A Thrilling Start Celebrated by Italian Press
The Euro 2020 opening match between Turkey and Italy sparked immense joy in Italy as the Azzurri secured a convincing 3-0 victory. The Italian media hailed the match as a “magical night” and celebrated their national team’s dominant performance against Turkey.
Corriere dello Sport, a leading sports newspaper, captured the national mood with the headline “Viva Italia,” accompanied by the subheading “Magnificent start, Turkey crushed.” The paper further amplified the celebratory tone with a commentary piece titled “Mommy Azzurri!” adapting a common Italian expression of fear and danger (“Mommy Turks!”) to reflect the national team’s color and victorious spirit.
In its player ratings, Corriere dello Sport’s analysis highlighted Burak Yılmaz as Turkey’s best performer, albeit with a score of 6 out of 10. The newspaper described Yılmaz as “the only one who saved Turkey’s honor.” Conversely, Ciro Immobile, who scored one of Italy’s three goals, received an 8 out of 10 and was recognized as Italy’s top player. Referee Danny Makkelie, whose decisions were debated in Italy, received a moderate score of 5 out of 10 from the publication.
Corriere dello Sport also noted the absence of Turkish fans in Rome due to Covid restrictions. However, they acknowledged the presence of Turkey supporters from Schengen countries who made their voices heard in the stadium. The newspaper estimated around 5,000 Turkish fans among the approximately 16,000 spectators in attendance.
La Gazzetta dello Sport, another prominent sports daily, proclaimed “Rose Italy” on its front page, depicting a festive atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the match venue. They echoed the sentiment of Turkish defeat, stating that the “Turks were crushed.” Their in-depth analysis declared, “This is the magical night we have been waiting for a lifetime.” The report emphasized Italy’s “total dominance” and control throughout the match.
La Gazzetta dello Sport awarded the Italian team an impressive 8 out of 10, while Turkey received a low 4.5. Cengiz Ünder was surprisingly chosen as Turkey’s best player by this publication. However, the newspaper criticized Turkish players Merih Demiral and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, both playing in Italy’s Serie A, for underperforming.
Beyond sports-specific publications, major national newspapers also prominently featured the Euro 2020 opening match and Italy’s triumph on their front pages, using enthusiastic language.
La Stampa newspaper ran with the headline “Magical night, Italy overwhelms Turkey,” stating, “There could not have been a sweeter Roman night to start the European Championship. Italy perfectly and maturely defeated Turkey.”
La Repubblica headlined its front-page coverage with “The football festival is back.” A commentary piece in the newspaper quipped, “The best thing about Turkey was the red color of their jerseys.”
Corriere della Sera opted for “Mancini’s Italy: Beautiful and victorious.” The newspaper acknowledged Turkey’s organized and compact play in the first half but noted their “demolition” after halftime.
Beyond the match result, the Italian press celebrated the start of Euro 2020 itself, delayed by a year due to the pandemic. The return of football and a sense of normalcy were recurring themes in their celebratory coverage. Ciro Immobile’s post-match quote, “We dedicate this victory to everyone fighting against this damn virus,” resonated across many newspapers, highlighting the broader context of the event.