Italy vs Wales LIVE: Euro 2020 result, final score and reaction tonight
Wales qualified for the last 16 while Italy topped Group A with a third win out of three
Italy topped Group A of Euro 2020 after a third straight win on Sunday, with a first-half goal from Matteo Pessina giving them a 1-0 victory over 10-man Wales, who also advance to the knockout stages of the competition.
The Italians had already guaranteed their progress, while Wales secured a berth too by finishing ahead of Switzerland on goal difference. The Swiss, who could still advance as one of the four best third-placed teams, beat Turkey 3-1 in Baku.
Roberto Mancini made eight changes to rest most of his first-choice starters, but Italy still dominated and missed several chances either side of Pessina's 42nd-minute goal, when he steered a low Marco Verratti free kick into the far corner.
Welsh centre back Ethan Ampadu was shown a straight red card in the 55th minute for stamping on Federico Bernadeschi's foot, and Wales then missed their best chance of an equaliser in the 74th when Gareth Bale volleyed over the bar from close range.
Italy will next face the runners-up of Group C, while Wales will take on the runners-up of Group B.
Euro 2020: Italy 1-0 Wales
42’: Italy coming close to scoring a second, with Pessina and Verratti again involved. Verratti, this time with the ball on the left hand side of the Wales area, angles a lovely cross into the box, Pessina makes the run, but fails to get the contact needed this time to direct it on goal, and the ball trickles wide.
Italy really turning on the style here at the Stadio Olimpico.
GOAL! Italy 1-0 Wales (Pessina ‘ 38) ⚽
38’: Goal! Verratti wins a free kick on the edge of the Wales area, down on the right-hand side. Verratti takes the set piece, and whips in a ball low into Atalanta’s Matteo Pessina, who gets the deftest of touches, to continue the ball in the direction of Verratti’s free kick.
The ball nestles into the corner of Ward’s goal, who just can’t get a hand to the ball.
A deserved goal for the home side.
Euro 2020: Italy 0-0 Wales
37’: Italy now in full possession of the ball, passing it from side to side, trying to eek out an opening. The Azzurri have now gone over 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal, a national record.
Euro 2020: Italy 0-0 Wales
32’: Switzerland are now 2-0 up, with Xherdan Shaqiri curling in a magnificent effort.
Italy again beginning to turn the screw, with Chiesa and Belotti again going close from the right hand side of the penalty area. Chiesa, especially, had time to steady himself and shoot, but his volley is deflected out for a corner.
Chiesa’s pace and Bernardeschi’s movement are causing Wales problems.
Wales struggling with Italy’s pressing at the moment. They need a breather.
Euro 2020: Italy 0-0 Wales
24’: Wales making a rare foray up the other end of the pitch, and passing the ball around with some panache, lovely link-up play down the left-hand side involving Allen, Williams and Gunter.
Italy then go straight up the other end of the pitch, and again Bernardeschi at the heart of everything, playing a nice give-and-go with Chiesa, before he slides a pass into the path of Belotti, who fires his shot wide.
Wales then win a corner after Leonardo Bonucci dithers in his own half. Dan James’ corner is just headed wide by Gunter.
Euro 2020: Italy 0-0 Wales
17’: Italy now starting to fashion more half chances, with Mancini’s side using both flanks. Federico Bernardeschi is floating between either wing and playing off of Belotti, and Bernardeschi is seeing a lot of the ball in these early stages.
Toloi’s volley from outside of the box takes a wicked deflection from Matteo Pessina, and cannons towards Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward, who smothers the ball.
Euro 2020: Italy 0-0 Wales
12’: A half-chance for Italy’s Andrea Belotti, as he throws himself at Emerson’s deep cross from the left-hand side, however the Torino striker misses proper contact with the ball. He might also have been in an offside position.
A lovely bit of skill by Federico Chiesa on the right hand side, as he glides past Gunter and puts in a very good cross, but is cleared away by the Welsh defence. Italy starting to turn the gears now after a slow start.
Euro 2020: Italy 0-0 Wales
9’: A cagey start here by both sides, with the away side sitting back and allowing Italy to have most of the ball, but Wales are keeping Italy at arms length. Italy meanwhile are just feeling themselves into the game.
Switzerland have taken the lead against Turkey, with Haris Seferovic scoring from the edge of the area. This makes things a little precarious for Wales, as if Italy win, and the Swiss win, Wales would drop down into third place, rather they securing qualification.
Euro 2020: Italy 0-0 Wales
1’: And we have kick off! Can Wales top the group? Will Italy secure a third consecutive victory?
Euro 2020: Italy vs Wales
Aaron Ramsey at Juventus:
Ramsey lines up today against the nation where he currently plays his football - in Serie A.
Ramsey joined Juventus from Arsenal two years ago, but he’s struggled to assert himself with the Italian giants.
Ramsey arguably joined Juve at the right time, the club was in a state of flux following the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri and the hiring of Maurizio Sarri.
Ramsey struggled in his opening season in Turin, making 34 appearances in all competitions, but many of them coming on late in games as a sub.
Sarri was sacked after only one season and was replaced by Andrea Pirlo, and Ramsey featured even less, with Pirlo opting to play a 4-4-2 system for the majority of the season.
He played 30 games in all competitions, but only racking up about 1,500 minutes of football over the season.
Ramsey also struggled with fitness problems, and even hired his own personal coach.
Reports in Italy suggest that both club and player have decided to move on after the Euros, with a return to the Premier League most likely.
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