Euro 2016 as it happened: Italy put Belgium to the sword in devastating counter-attacking display
Follow live coverage of tonight's Group E meeting
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Your support makes all the difference.Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of tonight's Group E clash between Belgium and Italy at the Stade des Lumières, Lyon.
Belgium vs Italy
Kick-off: 8.00pm
- Preview, facts and statistics
- Belgium have lost five of their last seven games in the European Championships.
- Italy were one of four teams (alongside Austria, England and Romania) to remain unbeaten in the 2016 qualifying campaign.
- Eden Hazard insists he 'never wanted to see Jose Mourinho fired' from Chelsea
- Marc Wilmots struggles to rein in expectation ahead of Euro 2016 opener in Lyon
- Belgium boss Marc Wilmots warns Uefa against punishing England and Russia for Marseille violence
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Spain have travelled to Toulouse in great number. 15 mins: The first chance of the game is so typically Spain. Juanfran took control on the right wing, and fed a ball into space for the overlapping David Silva. The Manchester City midfielder crossed first time on the run towards the near post where Morata arrived with a similar instinctive touch; either side of Petr Cech and the European Champions would have the lead, but thankfully for Cech and the Czechs, it cannoned into the welcoming arms of the goalkeeper.
Morata has hit the goalkeeper twice - should fit in well at Arsenal.
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20 mins: The 20th minute of this match is marked by a Spain corner, their second in quick succession and one from which Gerard Pique nearly engineers a heading chance for himself. However, the stage marks a more significant moment for Tomas Rosicky, who has now played more football for Czech Republic at these Championships than he did for Arsenal in all of last season's Premier League.
23 mins: David Silva takes drops deep into midfield, takes control of a short pass, turns briskly away from his marker and looks for the run of a striker to play a pass over the top to. He doesn't get one, and instead looks wistful at the thought of Sergio Aguero.
The players of Sweden and Republic of Ireland enter the Stade de France to huge ovations from their respective supporters - and while football is very much a team game, there's a feeling that this encounter could well be settled by which ever of the two world class strikers on the pitch are most effective.Shane Long versus Zlatan Ibrahimovic is up next.
KICK-OFF: In bright yellow sunshine, Sweden in bright yellow shirts get this Group E encounter underway, and are immediately on the attack. Ireland lost all three of their group games at Euro 2012, and there's no guesses for who they have to stop today if they want to start this tournament in the best possible manner.
3 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in each of Sweden’s last three opening games at the European Championships. Daring. #Euro2016#SWE
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13 mins: The Irish are competing well in the middle of the pitch, but their distribution at the moment is leaving something to be desired. In other words, it's been bloody dreadful. 
PASS MAP: #IRL are struggling to successfully carry out route one football.Their pass accuracy is just 47% so far.https://t.co/aUxEEuStqA
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17 mins: Ireland should lead! From a Robbie Brady corner on the left, Ciaran Clark got up highest to head across goal and there, at the far post, was his centre-back partner John O'Shea. All the Sunderland defender had to do was poke home, but somehow he failed to make proper contact with the ball, instead steering the chance feebly wide. You feel it won't be the last time the Irish threaten from a set-piece.
21 mins: Zlatan Ibrahimovic drills a 30-yard free-kick into the Ireland wall. So far Robbie Brady is winning the battle of the set-pieces.
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