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 vs Wales
Who could Wales face in the Round of 16? Jack Rathborn looks at the permutations.
Wales are primed for the round of 16 at Euro 2020 with a real buzz under Robert Page after victory over Turkey.
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are recapturing their best form, while the next generation is coming through with real signs of promise.
Who will Wales play next at Euro 2020? Possible last-16 opponents
Group winners, runners-up and the four best third-place teams qualify for the round of 16
“I never knew Stoke were that good,” says Bale
Welsh star Gareth Bale has commented on Roberto Mancini’s comments that ‘Wales are similar to Stoke’.
In his press conference yesterday, Mancini stated that he felt Wales played like the Stoke City sides he faced as manager of Man City a decade ago:
“Stoke had a very tough style of play, they were a very tough nut to crack,” said Mancini.
“It will be a very difficult match from a physical perspective because they are a powerful side like Stoke, but they are also very technical... Wales have players like (Joe) Allen, (Gareth) Bale and (Daniel) James. They have got some quality and skilful players.”
Bale then remarked on Mancini’s comments, saying: “I never knew Stoke were that good,” he said with a smile.
Wales manager Robert Page was also asked about Mancini’s comments, but Page glossed over them:
“I’ve not seen those comments,” Page said. “We’re not bothered what anyone else says. We’re fully focused on what we can do and how we can hurt teams.”
Euro 2020: Italy vs Wales
Roberto Mancini has made eight changes for the game against Wales, the largest turnover an Italian manager has made at a major tournament since 1996.
At Euro ‘96, then-Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi made five changes for the second group stage game against the Czech Republic.
Angelo Di Livio, Roberto Di Matteo, Alessandro Del Piero, Gianfranco Zola and Pierluigi Casiraghi, all of whom started in the 2-1 win against Russia in the first game, were replaced with Diego Fuser, Dino Baggio, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Roberto Donadoni and Enrico Chiesa.
The turnover didn’t work, and Italy lost the game 2-1. It meant Italy had to go into the last game against Germany needing to better the Czechs result against Russia.
Zola missed a penalty, Czech Republic drew 3-3 against Russia, and Italy went home.
However, there’s no chance of that happening in today’s game for Mancini’s side.
“Wales are like Stoke,” says Mancini
Italy boss Roberto Mancini says that Wales are similar in playing style to Stoke City.
Mancini came across Stoke when manager of Manchester City during his stint in the Premier League a decade ago, and sees similarities in Wales approach.
“Stoke had a very tough style of play, they were a very tough nut to crack,” Mancini told a news conference on Saturday.
“It will be a very difficult match from a physical perspective because they are a powerful side like Stoke, but they are also very technical... Wales have players like (Joe) Allen, (Gareth) Bale and (Daniel) James. They have got some quality and skilful players.”
Wales’ last victory against Italy
Highlights of Wales’ last win against Italy, in October 2002:
Wales’ record against Italy
Wales and Italy haven’t met each other too many times down the years.
They haven’t squared off since September 2003, when the pair met in their second game in qualifying for Euro 2004.
Italy recorded 4-0 win against Wales at San Siro, which included a Pippo Inzaghi hat trick and a solo goal from Alessandro Del Piero.
11 months prior to that game, Wales had beaten Italy at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, thanks to goals from Simon Davies and Craig Bellamy.
The pair also met in qualifying for Euro 2000, with Italy winning a combined 6-0 over both games.
Wales’ only other victory over the Azzurri came in June 1988, when a goal from Ian Rush - then at Juventus - secured a win.
In the starting line up that day for Italy was one Roberto Mancini.
Group A updates, one hour to kick-off
For Wales fans, they’ll likely have half an eye on the other game in the group as it could impact where they finish.
Here are the lineups for that fixture:
Switzerland XI: Sommer; Nico Elvedi, Akanji, Ricardo Rodríguez; Widmer, Granit Xhaka, Freuler, Zuber; Shaqiri; Embolo, Seferovic.
Turkey XI: Çakir; Çelik, Demiral, Soyunçu, Muldur; Ayhan, Tufan; Under, Kahveci, Calhanoglu; Yilmaz
Eyes on the last 16 for Page
There were three Wales changes in total - Moore, Ben Davies and Chris Mepham - and all three are a yellow card away from a suspension.
No doubt that has come into the thinking of Page, with Chris Gunter and Ethan Ampadu given their chance in the back three either side of regular starter Rodon.
Italy’s second string
A quick glance at the eight coming in for Italy and what to expect.
The starting centre-back alongside Bonucci is not Francesco Acerbi, who replaced the injured Chiellini in the last match, but 22-year-old Alessandro Bastoni. There are no fears over playing him - he has just starred for Inter Milan in winning Serie A this season. He’s likely Italy’s starter by the time the World Cup 2022 comes around, so here is a first valuable taste of tournament experience for him.
Back-up full-backs are Toloi - who plays right of centre in a three for Atalanta most often - and Chelsea’s Palmieri, so it could be a lopsided look when attacking the flanks.
In midfield, Verratti probably would have started the tournament if not for injury, so here’s a chance for him to gain rhythm and fitness, while Pessina is another Atalanta regular.
The front three would start for most other nations: Chiesa a Juve star, Belotti a free-scoring, powerful No9 with Torino and Bernardeschi the more creative force who is often used off the bench for club and country of late.
Second-string it might be, but this remains a formidable side.
No Kieffer Moore for Wales
The one change to the Wales attack is not just a personnel one, but a tactical one: Keiffer Moore has started both the two openers, but he is out and replaced by Neco Williams here.
The Liverpool youngster has habitually played left wing-back for Wales, so it’s a switch from a back four to 3-4-3 for the Dragons - Bale and James either side of Ramsey is most likely in attack, with the Juventus man probably dropping deep out of possession, leaving the speedy wide duo on the counter as Wales’ outlet.
Neco Williams has only made one very late sub appearance against Turkey so far, so it’s a huge day for the 20-year-old. This will be his 13th cap.
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