Greece 0-3 Italy
After the ignominy of failing to qualify for last summer’s World Cup Finals, the Azzurri have no intention of back-to-back embarrassments.
Under Roberto Mancini, they are determined to top Group J in Euro 2020 qualifying and be at next summer’s tournament which takes places across multiple cities (London, Amsterdam, Bilbao, Dublin, Glasgow, Budapest, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Saint Petersburg, Munch, Baku and Rome).
Since his appointment, it has not always been pretty, but with Mancini at the helm, they’ve kept six consecutive clean sheets, not conceding in a competitive game since a 1-0 defeat to reigning European champions Portugal last September.
The SBOBET Euro 2020 qualifying betting odds are certainly in their favour right now after this triumph in Athens.
Highlights of the game
Euro 2020 qualifying news was upon us before kick-off with Finland’s narrow victory over Bosnia pushing Greece back into third spot in the table.
Italy would not take their opponents for granted, however.
Ever since Otto Rehhagel led the Hellenic nation to the Euro 2004 triumph, the Greeks have been known for their mean defence and tactical discipline – even if their current side is not at the same level of the triumphant Greece team of 15 years ago.
Just like Mancini, beginning to restore the national team’s tarnished reputation in the eyes of its public, his Greek counterpart Angelos Anastasiadis is trying to escape from the ultra-defensive gameplay that Greece often used in the past. Also similarly to Italy, the current Greek team contains a core of young players, who are trying to impose a possession-based and modern playing style (yet, surprisingly, without an out-and-out striker as they rarely threatened).
That was evident in an entertaining contest in front of a passionate home crowd in Athens where Mancini opted for technique over physical strength in midfield with Nicolo Barella, Jorginho and Marco Verratti all starting.
It worked dividends in a 10 minute blitz midway through the first half in which the Italians scored three times and won the match.
First, Andrea Belotti burst down the left and pulled the ball back.
Nether Lorenzo Insigne nor Federico Chiesa could get a touch but Barella did from 12 yards.
One soon became two as Insigne – who Mancini had urged pre-match to take his chance and add more goals to his game – curled home the ball majestically, a top-drawer finish to give Italy daylight.
Three minutes later it was all over and Greece were left deflated.
A short corner was worked to Chelsea full-back Emerson Palmieri and, from his cross, centre back Leonardo Bonucci planted a header from close range in off the far post, again capitalising on shocking home marking.
It wasn’t until the final quarter that goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu had a shot to save to keep out a fierce half volley from Kostas Fortounis.
Such was their control, Italy could have extended their lead too in the closing stages.
Chiesa ballooned the ball over from seven yards when it seemed easier to score after Belotti set him up. Vassilis Barkas got his fingertips to an Alessandro Florenzi scorcher late on and then palmed a low curling shot from Napoli captain Insigne out of the far bottom corner.
Rome will host the opening game of Euro 2020 next summer. The Azzurri are pretty damn determined to be there.
Key statistics
For the first ever time, Italy have won seven European qualifiers in a row.
Italy have now kept six consecutive clean sheets, their best run since 1990 when they finished in third place in the World Cup.
Italy have scored in all of their past 20 European qualifying matches, a record for the Azzurri.
This was Insigne’s first goal for his country since March last year.
They have also scored seven goals in the first half of their last two games: one more in the first half than in their previous 20 matches.
These countries had crossed paths nine times before tonight with only one Greek victory, 2-1 at home in a friendly back in March 1972.
Along with that match, there were five Italy successes and three draws, but their most recent competitive meeting until this evening was a 1-1 Turin draw in November 1981.
What’s next?
Greece entertain Armenia on Tuesday (June 11) hoping to get their qualification bid back on track.
That’s their final match before a trip to Finland at the start of next season (September 5).
Italy host Bosnia next week – again on Tuesday in Turin – and it’s then the summer break before resuming their qualification campaign at Armenia in September.
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