Italy got their Euro 2016 campaign off to a flyer as Emmanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle were on target to down the swashbuckling Belgium side, and took the first initiative towards a last 16 berth.
Touted as the favourites to finish as leaders in group E, The Red Devils struggled to break down an obdurate Azzurri backline and spent large spells of the game in their shadows. Italy kept things tight at the back, shutting up the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, whilst their youthful attack rolled back the years.
Antonio Conte’s side made a very encouraging start to the campaign, having been deemed as “one of the worst Italian squads in the history”. The pressure is now on Belgium to catch-up.
Here are the major talking points from a gripping clash in Lyon.
1) By far, the most entertaining game of Euro 2016
The 2016 edition of the European championships hadn’t produced any great shakes thus far, averaging slightly more than only a goal per game. There were no headline-grabbing moments as such, whereas the games were just plain vanilla. However, the clash between Belgium and Italy has finally raised the bar.
In arguably the best match of the campaign thus far, the two sides played out an end-to-end encounter, producing an edge of the seat thriller. With some of football’s high muckamucks converging at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, it was the most glamorous clash of the tournament so far, and suffice to say, it lived up to its billing.
The match flew out of the gates right from the off as both teams pulled no punches in search of the lead. Belgium had the better chances for most of the game, but Italy were more clinical and also effectively dealt with the threat at the other end.
By a long shot, this was the most intriguing clash of Euro 2016.
2) Experience beats youth
The match between Belgium and Italy was billed as the battle of youth vs experience, with Marc Wilmot’s young guns taking on the experienced legs of the Azzurris. It did produce an enthralling affair, but it was experience that came out on top.
Under the bar, a 38-year-old Gianluigi Buffon came of age with some good saves and vital interceptions, whereas the centre-back pairing of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, who have 163 caps between them, was hard to breach.
The midfield was dominated by the Blues, with Daniel de Rossi pulling the strings with great aplomb and Giaccherini surging forward to score the opener.
Italy although had a few bumps when Belgium came close to scoring on one or two occasions, but their experience eventually trumped the youthful Belgium.
3) Belgium flatter to deceive
Hailed as the most valuable side and also the highest ranked team heading into the tournament, expectations were running really high on Les Diables Rouges. Packed to the rafters with several stellar names, this Belgium side had the potential to go all the way in France, but their opening day defeat did little to suggest that.
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku cut a frustrated figure upfront, having little to no impact in the final third. The back four Laurent Ciman, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen were in no man’s land, whereas Premier League hotshots Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard were way too disappointing.
Marouane Fellaini was lacking his usual aerial prowess and the less we speak about Radja Nainngolan the better.
This simply wasn’t the Belgium side that everyone was talking about. Despite such a talented line-up, they were hardly impressive in their showings and are now left with an uphill task to come out of the group.
4) Hazard and De Bruyne partnership just not clicking
Individually, they are two of the best young talents in the Premier League, but together, they are far less than the sum of their parts. Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne were supposed to be the battering rams carrying Belgium to lofty heights, but curiously, they have never clicked into gear for Belgium.
Against Italy as well, the duo were a poor imitation of their usual self and their creative engines seemed totally exhausted. The Azzurris did very well to contain them and impeded them from having an influence on the game.
The creativity of the Chelsea and Manchester City stars are essential if Belgium are to leave a mark in this tournament, and manager Marc Wilmots must come up with a plan that brings the best out of them whilst working in tandem.
5) Italy are no pushovers
The Azzurris were written off by the pundits long ago. Drawn in the group of death alongside Belgium, Sweden and Republic of Ireland, Italy were touted to finish second or even third given their average qualifying campaign and the quality in the squad. But if their opening game is anything to go by, they could go a long way in the tournament.
Italy are no pushovers, and they made it very clear here. Despite lacking the kind of individual talents in their team like Belgium did, Antonio Conte’s side worked collectively and caused a huge upset with the 2-0 win.
They attacked brilliantly and also played out from the back, something that hasn’t been seen in their game since a long time. The defence was rock-solid and The Red Devils were undone by some precise and direct passes, case in point Bonucci’s long ball to Giaccherini that led to the opener.
Italy’s biggest strength was their team spirit, which was very evident by their jubilant celebration post the match. And if the odds are stacked against them for the competition, they can make it big in France.
