Italy will feel confident of starting Euro 2020 with a win as they haven’t lost to Turkey in their 10 previous meetings. These two teams’ only previous encounter at a major tournament was at Euro 2000 with Italy winning that game 2-1. Turkey revel in their underdog status though, and both teams are starting with a blank slate. This opening game could go either way.
Turkey start with three players who played a part in Lille’s Ligue 1 triumph this year: Celik, Yazici and Yilmaz. The 35-year-old is the oldest player to appear for Turkey at a major tournament. Italy have similar experience to call upon in the form of 36-year-old captain Chiellini. With midfielder Marco Verratti unfit to feature here, Sassuolo star Locatelli will get the chance to show why he’s so highly regarded.
SUBS: Salvatore Sirigu, Bryan Cristante, Matteo Pessina, Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Bastoni, Emerson, Giacomo Raspadori, Francesco Acerbi, Alex Meret, Andrea Belotti.
ITALY (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Alessandro Florenzi, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini (c), Leonardo Spinazzola; Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli; Domenico Berardi, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne.
SUBS: Halil Dervisoglu, Irfan Can Kahveci, Enes Unal, Ozan Kabak, Altay Bayindir, Cengiz Under, Fehmi Mert Gunok, Orkun Kokcu, Mert Muldur, Dorukhan Tokoz, Kaan Ayhan, Taylan Antalyali.
TURKEY (4-1-4-1): Ugurcan Cakir; Mehmet Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Caglar Soyuncu, Umut Meras; Okay Yokuslu; Kenan Karaman, Ozan Tufan, Yusuf Yazici, Hakan Calhanoglu; Burak Yilmaz (c).
Hosts Italy have been revitalised under Roberto Mancini as just one of just two teams alongside Belgium to win all of their qualifying games. This is Italy’s 10th appearance in the European Championship but they haven’t won it since their first appearance way back in 1968. Given their form and tournament nous, they have to be one of the favourites to lift the trophy this time.
A year after it was meant to take place, Euro 2020 is finally here and what a match we have to start things off. Turkey qualified for this tournament thanks to their sturdy defence, having conceded just three goals in their 10 qualifying games. 18 years after leading Turkey to third place at the 2002 World Cup, Senol Gunes could well get his dark horses riding again here to match or better their run to the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of the opening match of UEFA Euro 2020, a Group A clash between Turkey and Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
