Italy punch ticket to round of 16 with 6 points and 6 goals

            Wednesday’s Group A match on June 16, 2021, in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, saw the Azzuri repeat their previous scoreline as they beat Switzerland 3-0 and become the first team to qualify for the Round of 16. Just like Italy’s last opponents, the Swiss were unsure of what to do from an attacking standpoint, as they would only have one shot on target, and spend most of the game defending.

            Italy, on the other hand, seems to be finding their groove. Midfielder Manuel Locatelli would score a brace: the first being a tap-in, resulting from a classic counterattack, and the second being a beautiful shot from just outside the box, ending up across goal into the bottom right corner. Striker Ciro Immobile would end the scoring with a goal similar to Locatelli’s, as his would be across goal and off the bottom left post.

            Italy is proving that they are a bigger threat than people had anticipated. For a team known for its defense, scoring three goals in a game is something that they have never done at the Euros before, let alone twice now.

Turkey will end up facing Switzerland on Sunday in their final group stage match. It is a must-win for both teams if either of them hopes to sneak out of the group as a third-place team.

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Wales vs. Turkey

• Wales would defeat Turkey 2-0, as Gareth Bale would have two assists and a missed penalty.
• Aaron Ramsey would score in the 42^nd minute after chesting down a beautiful pass from Bale and volleying it into the bottom left corner.
• Bale would have a chance to score a penalty in the 61^st minute, but would end up launching it over the crossbar.
• Connor Roberts would score a tap-in in the 95^th minute of added time after Bale dribbled from the right corner flag into the box, overtaking multiple defenders, and passing it to Roberts right outside of the six-yard box.

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Standings of Group A after matchday 2 of 3:

1. Italy —————— 6 pts*
2. Wales—————- 4 pts
3. Switzerland——– 1 pts
4. Turkey————— 0 pts

*qualified for round of 16

Photo: Manuel Locatelli, from Shutterstock, taken by ph.FAB