Italy opens Euro 2020 with 3-0 win over Turkey

AP , Friday 11 Jun 2021

Lorenzo Insigne & Ciro Immobile
Italy's forward Lorenzo Insigne (R) celebrates with Italy's forward Ciro Immobile after scoring the team's third goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A football match between Turkey and Italy at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on June 11, 2021. (AFP)

A flurry of second-half goals gave Italy a 3-0 win over Turkey in the opening match of the European Championship.

Ciro Immobile kicked in a rebound from close range and Lorenzo Insigne added another following a poor clearance. Both came after an own-goal from Turkey defender Merih Demiral had given Italy the lead.

The Italians dominated from the start but were denied in the first half by a superb save from Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir and a decision by the referee not to award a penalty for an apparent handball.

The tournament began a year late because of the coronavirus pandemic and is still being called Euro 2020.

The Stadio Olimpico was only 25% full because of coronavirus measures and fans sat in small groups safely distanced from one another. The crowd of about 16,000 was still the largest gathering in Italy for a year and a half.

Wales and Switzerland play in another Group A match on Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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