Recap of opening games for groups a and b

As Saturday’s matches came to an end, all teams in Groups A and B had played their opening game. Below is a summary of what happened in each game.

Italy vs Turkey:

• Italy impress at home as they win 3-0 against Turkey.
• This was the first time that Italy has ever scored three goals in a single Euro match.
• The scoring unfortunately started off with an own goal (Merih Demiral 53^rd minute) after an incoming cross bounced off of his chest and into the bottom right corner.
• 13 minutes later, Ciro Immobile (66^th minute) would tap in rebound from teammate Leonardo Spinazzola’s volley inside the box.
• The last goal would come at the 79^th minute, with Lorenzo Insigne passing the ball across goal into the bottom right corner, which all started because of a poor pass from the Turkish goalie, Ugurcan Cakir.
• Turkey, on the other hand, looked unsure of themselves as they would play the game from a defensive point of view which is not how they have been playing recently. Previously defeating the Netherlands 4-2 and France 2-0 in World Cup Qualifying games, Turkey would end the match with only 3 shots the entire game, none of which would end up on target.

Wales vs Switzerland:

• The game ended in a 1-1 draw which puts both teams ahead of Turkey in Group A.
• The Swiss would start off the scoring early in the second half with Breel Embolo heading the ball in off of a corner in the 49^th minute.
• Welsh striker Kieffer Moore would end up heading in the tying goal off of a perfect inswinging cross from midfielder Joe Morrell.

Denmark vs. Finland:

• Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo would score the only goal in the 59^th minute – a diving header off of a cross from Jere Uronen.
• Denmark would be awarded a penalty in the 74^th minute, but Pierre-Emile Højbjerg would end up missing and the Finnish would go on to upset Denmark in a 1-0 win, where the score was not the main story.
• The main news is that of Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen (Reuters article), who collapsed on the field, and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is now okay and responsive.

Belgium vs Russia:

• Belgium make presence known as they defeat Russia 3-0 in St. Petersburg.
• Romelu Lukaku was the start of the match, scoring two goals. The first came in the 10^th minute – tapping in a mishandled ball from Russian defender Andrei Semyonov.
• The second was at the 88^th minute – slotting it past the keeper after a beautiful pass from Thomas Meunier
• Meunier would also score at the 34^th minute by tapping in a rebound from about the distance of the penalty spot.

Group A as of Saturday June 12, 2021 (points = pts.):

1. Italy 3 pts
2. Wales 1 pts
3. Switzerland 1 pts
4. Turkey 0 pts

Group B as of Saturday June 12, 2021:

1. Belgium 3 pts
2. Finland 3 pts
3. Denmark 0 pts
4. Russia 0 pts

Photo: Romelu Lukaku, from Shutterstock, taken by Nicolo Campo