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.
