Euro 2016: Italy v Belgium
25 min: Plenty of possession for Belgium but they can't find the killer pass at the moment. Italy keeping De Bruyne very quiet as well, doubling up on him most of the time.
23 min: Corner for Belgium on the far side, but it's a poor delivery from De Bruyne and easily cleared.
21 min: A shot form Nainggolan form the edge fizzes wide of Buffon's right post. The Roma midfielder wants a corner but Clattenburg isn't interested.
Giaccherini gets to the byline and cuts back onto his right and hits the deck as Laurent Ciman slides in. Rash tackle and looked like there was contact, but there aren't many protestations from Italy and Clattenburg gives a goal kick.
20 min: Belgium have grown into this and they're keeping the ball well now and Italy are struggling to get out of their half. Teasing cross from Nainggolan but Lukaku can't get across his man.
17 min: First glimpse of Hazard as he slaloms inside and slips it to Lukaku, but Chiellini slides in with a strong challenge to win it. Unstoppable force immovable object etc etc.
16 min: Giaccherini crosses from the left but it's cleared and Belgium can break. De Bruyne's pass is poor but so is the Italian clearance and Lukaku sends in a low cross, but Bonucci strolls across to intercept and the danger is over,
14 min: Great ball from de Bruyne into Lukaku in the box but Bonucci reads it and outmuscles the Everton striker. That will be a serious battle today.
12 MIN: BELGIUM 0 ITALY 0
11 min: Barzagli plays it in to Pelle's feet and he plays a cute ball round the corner which is just too strong for Eder. For all their defensive strengths Italy are looking good going forward here.
10 min: Buffon forced into a sharp save after the ball drops nicely for Nainggolan to shoot from the edge of the box. Kevin de Bruyne's corner finds Fellaini but his header is well wide of the far post.
9 min: After a nervy opening Italy have settled into this well and look very solid. Eder finds Candreva out wide and he jinks both ways before a low cross is cleared by Belgium.
7 min: Eder goes in on Thomas Vermaelen with his studs raised and earns himself a talking to from Mark Clattenburg but excapes an early booking.
5 min: plenty of zip in the surface in Lyon after a lot of rain. Daniele De Rossi challenges with Lukaku in the air and ends up on his backside.
4 min: Eder has a shot from the edge but it's half blocked and bounces through to Courtois harmlessly. A bit of space for Italy on the right and a low cross is well cleared by Belgium.
3 min: A few nervy passes early on from Italy. Neither side have really settled so far. Great noise in Lyon though.
1 min: Some early, rather robust centre forward play from Graziano Pelle, dumping his marker onto the turf as he challenged for a long ball.
Here we go.....
BEEEEEEEEEEP!
Marouane Fellaini what have you done?! The big man has gone all Carlos Valderrama on us and his perm is now peroxide blonde.
There's the lyrics of the Italian national anthem, if you fancy singing along.
The teams are out for the anthems at the impressive new Stade de Lyon.
Seems improbable that despite their consistent dominance on the international stage Italy have won the European Championships just the once back in 1968.
Plenty of familiar faces in Belgium's star-studded line-up. They're strong throughout but it's going forward they look particularly impressive, with captain Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne playing off Romelu Lukaku. Marouane Fellaini starts as well to offer another dimension to the Belgian's.
As ever Italy's strength comes from their defence, with Buffon behind a back three of Chiellini-Bonucci-Barzagli. It's the same defence which has seen Juventus win five Serie A titles on the bounce.
Good evening!
Top spot in Group E is up for grabs after Ireland's draw with Sweden at the Stade de France.
Tonight Belgium's golden generaiton have the chance to finally shine in Lyon and show the world they can be the sum of their very impressive parts.
But standing in their way tonight are Italy. This Italian side are probably the anthithesis of Belgium in that Antonio Conte's side are without the stellar names of years gone by.
But still, this is Italy. It's impossible to write the Azzurri off, and if you do you'll probably end up with egg on your face after they've won every game 1-0 en route to the final.
We'll be bringing you all the action from the Stade de Lyon, so time to sit back and enjoy the third instalment of a Monday football trilogy.
Come on!!!!
0 Comments