By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
Some Italian journalists had called this their worst
national side in living memory to go to a major international tournament. Many
by Tuesday morning were eating humble pie.
Lyon’s opening game of EURO 2016 brought about a revival of
Italy who did a real Italian job on Belgium. They impressed many with their
fluidity and cohesion and fully deserved their 2-0 victory in Group E on Monday
night.
Sunderland reject Emanuele Giaccherini and Southampton’s
Graziano Pelle scored the two goals on a night where team unity won the game
over individual skill.
Building
from the back
This is an Italian side that has headed into EURO 2016 with
low expectations. They might have been unbeaten in qualifying but far from
sparkled and were heavily beaten 4-1 by Germany in a friendly in Cologne in
March.
However, they went to the World Cup finals in 1982 and 2006
with similar levels of hope and they won them both. Could EURO 2016
produce a similar story?
If it does, then Italy can rely firmly on the backline,
built from the cornerstone of success at Serie A champions Juventus. Playing in
his fourth European finals, Gianluigi Buffon didn’t have his most testing of
evenings but is a fearsome figure and even at 38 years old, still one of the
best goalkeepers in the entire competition.
Outgoing Italian manager Antonio Conte set his team out with
a flat back three of Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli –
all part of the recent league and cup double Juventus achieved in Italy. All
three were outstanding in Lyon, restricting the majority of Belgium’s attacking
talents to long-distance strikes.
You will be hard pressed to find a better pass in the next
four weeks that Bonucci played for the opening goal. His 30-yard through ball
tore through the Belgian backline and gave Giaccherini the chance to finish
coolly, even when he was one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois.
Throw in the defensive shield of Daniele de Rossi ahead of
these three and you can see Conte has a strong and experienced baseline. Their
success might ultimately determine on their attacking prowess.
Pelle did the job in this match. He ran rings around Thomas
Vermaelen all evening and his goal to wrap the contest up was a calm, composed
finish. He deserved it for his presence all game.
Belgian
meltdown
Belgium never really got started. They were considered as an
outsider to win the competition but on this evidence, they will struggle to
even get out the group. Considering the Republic of Ireland and Sweden are in
Group E and are no pushovers, they must raise their game.
 |
| Belgian skipper Eden Hazard looks frustrated as his side were well-beaten |
Eden Hazard (pictured looking disappointed) huffed and puffed all night and he was the only
one of the starting XI who looked like he could change the course of the game.
Kevin de Bruyne failed to make an impact, whilst Romelu Lukaku was abject at
best and missed the team’s golden opportunity on the hour mark, blazing wildly
over the bar when in on Buffon.
Both Divock Origi and Dries Mertens offered occasional
glimpses of what they could do in cameo roles and might start against the
Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
You could see that without the leadership in Vincent Kompany
at the back that Belgium were struggling. Marc Wilmots has got a big job on his hands to salvage their
campaign. This isn’t a terminal blow but a huge setback to their chances.
Considering they are meant to be the 2nd best side on the planet,
this result on Monday night made the FIFA world rankings going into this
competition look a little bit daft.
My best
three players of the match
Man of the Match: Leonardo Bonucci (Italy)
Bonucci was excellent throughout, frustrating Lukaku all
game and then produced a splendid pass for the opening goal. He might be in the
prime of his career, but Bonucci is still a fearsome competitor.
2nd: Graziano Pelle (Italy)
Graziano Pelle went into the game nursing an injury but he
certainly didn’t look like a player who might be lacking match sharpness. His
goal in stoppage time made the scoreline a much fairer reflection.
3rd: Emanuele Giaccherini (Italy)
It is strange to think that it didn’t work out in English
football for Giaccherini. Whenever he pulls on an Italy shirt, he seems to
deliver his best football and he was another who had bundles of energy
throughout. He took his goal with such aplomb.
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