Belgium v Italy Match of the Day Live

The time for talking is over, we are set for one of the standout matches

in the group stages for euro 2016, Belgium ranked second in the world

against Italy, finest in Kiev four years ago. This is the first of six

matches to be played in the 59,000 capacity Stade de Lyon. They cannot

keep out the rain though, it is pouring down in Lyon, and this is

how Group E stands. A heavyweight game requires a heavyweight panel,

and very easy to pile on the pounds in retirement so welcome to Rio

Ferdinand, Thierry Henry and Gianluca Vialli. I can barely

remember going into a tournament of big -- lower expectations of an

international side. I think we are quite realistic, we recognise that

lately we haven't been able to produce any top-class players but we

are also a very pragmatic nation and we know that we have the oldest but

also the most solid, reliable and experienced defence in the

tournament. History always tells us that when expectations are low in

Italy, they tend to do well. It is not a surprise that we would be able

to defend very well, what is different is that we will use the

defence as a trampoline to play forward, attacking football. We miss

good striker, the likes of you or myself. But we are confident that

one of the strikers we have will use this stage to elevate themselves as

a top-class player. As for Belgium, it very much a Premier League look

about it. Yes, we are all used to seeing these players in the Premier

League. These guys are talked about as having the best crop of players

in the tournament, that brings pressure and expectation. They are

called the Golden generation in the country and from everyone else

outside. I felt that as an England player, it is pressure, but they

have got to prove themselves. They have got the individuals, can they

perform on this stage? I'm not sure you are overly convinced with either

of these sides? Those guys that said it all. I don't think Belgium have

done anything to show they are the Golden generation, you have got to

prove that. They have the potential to be, and I hope they will. If we

go back with Italy, for me they don't have the Tottis, I won't name

everyone, but they have a good team. What you need to know as an Italian

is that you are talking of one day the lowest expectation, even when

there is the biggest expectation, they are always there or about.

Let's check on the teams, starting with Italy. Veteran Juventus keeper

Gianluigi Buffon remains the number one. He will play behind the same

three centre-backs that he does at club level, Chiellini and company

fast approaching 200 caps between them. Candreva and Darmian are the

wingbacks. Pelle Partnered with Eder upfront. As for Belgium, Thibaut

Courtois is the goalkeeper. A formidable pairing of Nainggolan and

Witsel. Lukaku enters the Euros in fine form, you scored four goals in

as many matches since the turn of the year. Belgium are full of

attacking threat, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku, but they

are missing the talismanic captain, Vincent Kompany, who will be

watching from the sidelines tonight. Kevin De Bruyne. The mastermind.

Benteke. The game changer. I am the guy that

looks for opportunities and I will support my team with everything I

have got, with the passion of an Irish fan and the heart of a Belgian

player. I am just dealing with it. What is the anticipation like in the

squad and back home at Belgium? We used to be the failing Golden

generation but people are forgetting the team was very young. With the

quarterfinal of the World Cup we started winning games and now this

team has to be the best in the world. That's how they believe in

Belgium. The main thing I have seen is a great togetherness. You

couldn't believe how much these guys deserve something good to happen to

them. Great squad, great team spirit. What is success for you?

Success for every player in the team will be winning the competition.

There is no player in that team that plays at a level where they can

justify aiming for less. I am just there to support and we will be

positive no matter what. Are these games must win games or must not

lose games? As a player every game is a must-win game, but as a

bystander, this first game, do not lose it. Knowing the Italians, they

don't want to lose the game. Don't leave yourself to wide-open. In this

case I am no one, just someone who has an opinion. Just don't lose.

They certainly have lots of star players, let's start with Kevin De

Bruyne. He is a fabulous talent, called the mastermind. Yes, a

beautiful footballer to watch. His balance, plays off both feet, loves

running from deep as well. Look at him, from the halfway line, keeping

up with play. When he gets the opportunity, this guy is the

pinnacle. Very clean feet, very dangerous from set pieces too. A

natural footballer, you cannot pin him down. He loves to Rome. That is

what's difficult, when you mark a player, he drifts and that's what

makes him very difficult to pick up. And what I like about him, he is

very direct at times, he can play short or long. His desire to go

forward is amazing and he can finish ever so well, that is a difficult

skill. Also, if you are playing against someone with two feet, as a

defender it is so difficult to mark them because you don't know which

way to show them. If he chops back, he is comfortable to do it on his

other foot. They have got another player that can ghost past people in

Eden Hazard. He had a tough season in Chelsea although he came good

towards the end so perhaps he is coming into a bit of form. He

reminds me of when I was young, I used to play a video game, I used to

give the ball to the best player and just run and do this. It is just

crazy. I think that goal gave him a massive boost to do what we are

seeing now and what he did in Belgium in the game before the

Euros. He cannot do that often but he can. That's like being in the

school playground, the older kid in the playground. I can remember being

the older kid in the playground but I can never remember doing that! The

challenge is to be able to play this many creative players but still keep

the rest of the team in balance. It is to find the balance between

freedom and discipline and it is not easy. We want to see that now at the

Euros because let's not forget he didn't play well all season, he

appeared at the end. We can see that Gianluca was the manager because I

can see that coming out now. This player divides opinion. He can bully

any centre-half on the planet through his physical prowess. His

weakness is his back to play. He wants to be running on to things,

playing in a team almost that counterattack. That's why maybe he

wasn't a success at Chelsea. They want to play into a striker and then

play off him. So what you are talking about is you question his

runs and the way he plays in the last third. When he can run into a

massive space, I think he is good but sometimes I think his runs in

and around the box, when a team is deep, are not clever enough but he

will score you goals and he is the main guy for Belgium. As a manager I

would say he is the mainstay of the game! Italy boss Antonio Conte will

take over at Chelsea next season but the former Juventus midfielder who

won 20 caps for his country remains focused on the job in hand. I like

to fight, I am a perfectionist in my life and I want the best. I want to

play with my players, I want my players to feel me very close. I

suffer and I win with them. Antonio Conte was my captain at Juventus.

Really focused on the tactics. He didn't have a lot of technical

quality but he was really smart on the pitch, he understood well the

tactics of the game. I think he is the same as a manager. I had great

coaches in my experience, in my career. Ancelotti... Many great

coaches. I studied them. When you become manager, you must understand

that you are not still a player. It is very difficult. Another type of

role. He was a very hard coat, he was feeling everything in the match,

always moving around the ground. Did not depend on what moment, he was

every time a very good subject for the rest. In that moment, for me, it

was a defeat but for me it was very important to become good manager.

When you fall, sometimes it is more important than you win because when

you fail you must understand the reason, no? I have my philosophy. I

like to play an offensive football, an attractive football with great

intensity. Winning is difficult, it is not for

all. This is a fantastic challenge forming. -- for me. After Aaron

qualification, it is important for me to prepare in the right way. --

our. I think it is not easy to be manager

of the Italian national team in this moment. They have a lot of talent,

but it is the Euro cup. It is difficult to explain why there is

not talented players among the young players in a country where we always

had talented players. This tournament is very important to find

out good players for the country, for the fans. To make the Italian

people very proud. And then, when we finish, only at that time, will I

start to think of the new season, and my new experience.

That is the Italian manager, as a manager yourself, tell us what he is

like as a man. I know him very well, my vice captain at Juventus. He is

tactically very knowledgeable, and his teams are always incredibly well

organised. He can change system during the match, he is really good,

very good at getting inside the mind of the players. He can get them to

play with the military and pride and control... Aggression. Intensity. --

humility. Very demanding, not particularly flexible. I understand

that he has banned pizza and ice cream! What kind of an manager can

do that! They do call them the Italian Jose Mourinho, after that

disappointing system he will be able to tell the players to shut up, work

hard! Takes no prisoners, do it the way that he says it all you are out.

I think that Fabio Capello banned a couple of things with the England

team. Every single detail is looked at and analysed and dealt with,

reminds me of that. He banned butter. I had grown up all my life

having butter on toast, and then it was olive oil and salt, I created my

own mix to create my type of butter, but that is the details that he

deals with, seems to me like he has his team well drilled and organised,

they will be difficult to beat like any Italian team. In many ways it

seems like the problem for the team is strikers, they do not have any

goal-scorers, look at that... Kia we are lacking a striker. We have

Pelle and he is the sort of player that is difficult to fall in love

with but it is impossible not to respect him, did he works really

hard, he works for the team, he's not fast, but he has good technique,

and his aerial ability is second to none. He's very good at bringing

players into the game. He will be used a lot today, when we have the

ball and he can score a few goals as well. If you cross the ball, he very

dangerous. He is huge, a huge man, a specimen. What he is good at, he has

better feed than people give him credit for. If they have runners off

him, then he could be a problem. Very experienced, this team, or, is

it simply too old. I would call it experienced, I prefer that word!

Don't forget, Italians love a 1-0. Perhaps there is not a goal-scorer,

but one nil in Italy, that is a great win. They love that. How do

you see this one going, tough one to call, two teams who cannot fathom

what is... You will be surprised by the way that we start the match,

with so much intensity, so aggressive. I think that we will

take them by storm for at least 30 minutes. I think that Antonio Conte

has said that he likes intensity and attractive football but also being

Italian he likes security, he will make sure they are not too exposed

and open. Belgium must be careful. Experience will play a big part, but

when you have De Bruyne and Azhar, you will always have a chance. One

of the big games of the group stage is Belgium against Italy. -- Hazard.

Good evening, everybody, this is a really big head-to-head. There will

be plenty more in these euros, but this is a big one, between Belgium,

many people's fancied to win the, they may be well champions four

times but only crowned champions of Europe once. 1968. They have been

runners-up twice since. Once, to France, Euro 2000, and Spain, four

years ago. Wonderful new stadium, opened in

January, it is the home to Olympique Lyonnais, holding 59,000, and it

will be the home of the semifinal in three weeks' time, do not bet

against one of these sites being back. First, the national anthem of

Italy. -- sites. -- sides. Still gets you going, after all

these years. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the

national anthem of Belgium. They probably outnumber the Italian

fans, the Belgians, a great read wage behind that goal away to the

left-hand side. It has only stopped raining in the last half hour, it

has been raining most of the day. Very heavily at times, the pitch

will have taken a real soaking. -- red wedge. How Marc Wilmots must

miss that Vincent Kompany was not able to work for us today, injuries

to defenders were badly timed as well, none of them made the squad,

they have 30-year-old Laurent Ciman filling in, he plays for Montreal

Impact. But any side that has Romelu Lukaku playing in it, and Eden

Hazard, must surely have a chance of doing something special. Lukaku has

scored in each of Belgium's last four games. Following Champions

League and FA Cup finals, another big day for Mark Clattenburg.

Familiar faces, all of his team. Eden Hazard, captain of Belgium, in

the absence of Vincent Kompany. Five of this Italian side played in the

final of Euro 2012, they are Daniele De Rossi, the famous four from

Juventus, Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini. 28 game in European

Championship or World Cup final tournament for Buffon. The

Southampton player Graziano Pelle a's need injury has cleared up. --

knee. They met in a friendly in Brussels

back in November, Belgian winning it 3-1, 20 second meeting, Italy

leading 13-4, with four draws. -- 22nd. You have been looking forward

to this one, Martin Keown. Not often that you see in Italian team going

into an opening game as the underdog such is the quality of this Belgian

team, they have great individuals, can this Belgian team become a team?

Italy in the chain strip, getting the game underway, taking from right

to left, against Belgium, in the red and black with the yellow flash down

the side. -- change strip. So much expected of this Belgian side,

ultimately, disappointed at the World Cup two years ago. Chiellini

with the throw in for Italy, to Graziano Pelle.

What can you say about Buffon? He goes on and on and on, probably the

start of the team now, they have lost a lot of the really quality

players over the years. Yes. They persist with this back three,

fascinating to see how that works, not many teams playing that way, it

gives them twin strikers at the top of the team. Marc Wilmots as the

team that he set out in the World Cup, Lukaku, disappointing in that

competition, surely can only do better this time around. Spoilt for

choice upfront, Marc Wilmots, Lukaku has been informed, as we said in the

warm up matches. There he is, moving into a dangerous area. It is going

to be a throw for Belgian, dealt with by Andrea Barzagli. Lukaku's

pace testing them. Putting them in behind. De Bruyne.

Active Ciman but that is too high for Lukaku, his brother, Jordan,

also in the squad, he is a left back. -- back to Ciman. In the press

conference yesterday Antonio Conte said that he wanted a team of

warriors, very respectful of Belgium, said they were one of the

favourites to win it. Interesting point that you made, Italy always

through the years, they have had Janet Kavi Arleigh, they have

Baggio, Totty, Alessandro Del Piero, they have had a superstar in their

ranks. -- Gianluca Vialli. Exactly, and now it is the goalkeeper. --

Totti. The two wide men for Italy,

nominally wingbacks. They will play very advanced positions. Chiellini,

into Gia. -- Giaccherini. Could not quite get it away, the shot is

deflected. Courtois, and Graziano Pelle a perhaps complaining that eat

could have looked for the Pars instead of the shot. Noticeably,

Italy have their white players high up. -- that he could have looked for

the pass rather than the shot. That is a very good ball, looking for the

full-back in the middle. Almost got it. Flicked out in the Mick of time

by Thomas Vermaelen. -- flicked out in the nick of time. Approving

cheering, from the fans of Italy. They have started on the front foot.

This system allows them to do that, push runners on.

Had an excellent World Cup. His career took him with Juventus and

his goal helped France win this competition against the Italians 16

years ago. Outstanding finisher, wasn't he, to say the least. I

forgot until I saw a rerun of it the other day just how late the French

goal was. That is a feature of the back three, they commit to those

diagonal balls. This time too much on it.

Nainggolan wants it, the Belgian with the Mohican, he didn't get it.

De Rossi goes and gets it. He is the playmaker, and now Pirlo isn't

there. Fellaini is a man who divides opinion, but he scored four goals

for Belgium in qualifying, only one less than Kevin De Bruyne and Eden

Hazard. He is an important player for them. Free kick, and Mark

Clattenburg coming over. Protesting his innocence, as Vermaelen picks

him up. Both boots were high but he has definitely caught him there. An

early involvement from Mark Clattenburg. Just laying down the

law. Like he likes to do. An apology from Eder to Vermaelen, who appears

to be OK. He has been through the mill of injuries of late, the last

thing he wants is a knock in Belgium's first game in this

tournament. Vertonghen of course playing full-back tonight, not sure

about that one. Thibaut Courtois, who yesterday was described as a

benchmark for young goalkeepers. I have become accustomed to call him

Witsel, but have been pronouncing it wrong. Where do you stand on

Fellaini? Dembheli must consider himself very

unfortunate not to be playing. He has been playing well all season.

Nice little touch off from Eder. Mark Clattenburg is happy for play

to continue. The Italians have four in the middle. If Eder can ever get

a cross in, but it was dealt with comfortably by Vertonghen. Back in

Lukaku, Fellaini... Saved by Gianluigi Buffon. Good football from

Belgium, good diagonal ball in. It has been knocked down to him. Expect

him to save this, even at 38. Comfortable save for him.

Plays for Roma, the man whose shot it was. There is some real hide in

there with Fellaini, Lukaku, Vertonghen -- height.

Eight major tournament, Gianluigi Buffon. It might have been nine if

he hadn't missed one injured. Fouled by Thomas Vermaelen. He is such a

big man, isn't he, Pelle. Great receiving the ball in, and his twin

striker Eder often makes a run in front of him. Very difficult for the

defence to pick up. Usually now teams have a single striker or

someone running from deep. Vermaelen's touched on that was

important Good play by Pelle. Just that little

sloppiness, Marc Wilmots will know he needs more from his team. Giving

away too much space at the moment. I think the exercise for Belgium is

to get the ball into wide positions and really test the Italians, push

backbones wingbacks. -- push backbones wingbacks. -- push back

those wingbacks. Nainggolan forward to Hazard, Hazard

riddling away. Hazard is playing very deep, isn't he?

Kevin De Bruyne, that was a lovely ball into Lukaku, and good

defending. Chiellini wasn't quite sure, and Gianluigi Buffon says no,

you did right. You saw the contrast there, didn't you? Not quite as good

on the ball. The back three know each other

inside out. It must be fantastic, with the goalkeeper is well right

behind them. Too high for Simon by considerable

margin. Giaccherini is playing with such

confidence, certainly not the player we saw at Sunderland. Here is

Giaccherini. Kevin De Bruyne trying to pick his

moment and he picked the wrong one. The clearance wasn't convincing, was

it? Bonucci this time safe. I think that

will be a free kick. Just across in there, look how calm he is, no

panic. Belgium will want to test him one versus one with Lukaku. Eder,

not quite quickly enough out of the blocks to beat that. There is a

criticism of Eder, he doesn't quite read everything from Pelle. Pelle is

very intelligent. Hazard couldn't quite find Lukaku.

He looks in the mood. He does, when he wants to run at people it is a

frightening sight, isn't it? Downhill slalom springs to mind. He

didn't score a goal in the Premier League until the back-end of April

against Bournemouth. The ball had gone out of play which was rather

fortunate for Giaccherini. Good work from Eden Hazard.

That is Cleverley disguised in towards Fellaini, but also well

defended. Found its way to Giaccherini. Got to

keep it there, doesn't want to lose it.

Before, in European Championship finals, Belgian, in Euro 98,

prevented Italy from reaching the final of the tournament, which they

were hosting that year. They went to lose the final two West Germany and

Italy beat Belgium in the tournament they were co-hosting, Euro 2000,

2-0. Fascinating, now, the way that

Belgium are retaining the ball, looking for the moment, for the

kill. Intelligent ball, chased by Lukaku. The longer that Belgium have

the ball, they become a back five, Italy, they cannot get out.

Thibaut Courtois has made the decision to come, and it is a good

one. For a moment there, it was about the timing. He has been sent

off a couple of times this season. He has certainly not have the season

he would have been hoping for. That is in common with everybody at

Chelsea last season. Interesting 20 minutes, Eden Hazard.

Good positioning from him. Eden Hazard, so far, has been busier

than De Bruyne. Here he is. Bonucci, again, at the moment,

everything is attracted to Leonardo Bonucci.

Throw from the Belgian centre back, Jan Vertonghen. Deflection, he is

not going to get it from Mark Clattenburg, and it is a goal kick

to Italy. Trying to get out. These Italian defenders will certainly be

in the game after this one. Bizarrely, long, towards Darmian. --

Barzagli. That was a sliding challenge from Ciman and a goal kick

has been given. The Belgian right back gives the referee the thumbs

up. Seems to catch him but it is just outside the box, Mark

Clattenburg was right on the spot. Not too many objections from the

Italian players. In all honesty, I'm surprised there is not more. Pretty

rash challenge, which he did not time very well.

Perhaps a surprise that they picked him from the start. Moving in front

and finding De Bruyne. It has found its way to Fellaini. That is off

Chiellini, it is a Belgian corner. Nipping in front of Matteo Darmian.

The fullbacks want to push forward. Outnumbering the Italians, in wide

positions. Nicely round the corner from Eden

Hazard. Free kick is given. Foul on Fellaini, free kick taken and taken

quickly. Alderweireld. Ciman four. Looking

for De Bruyne, could not quite get it through. Giaccherini. Antonio

Conte, claiming a foul on Matteo Darmian, from Laurent Ciman. Wanted

him to go down there, interesting that they cannot get De Bruyne on

the ball, he has not been on the game at all, he switched wings

there, they doubled up on the left. Talking to an Italian journalist

yesterday at a press conference, about Antonio Conte, who will have a

Premier League season next year, and I asked what he is like, he said, he

is a maniac, but he is a clever one. I'm not sure what they are

complaining about. Eder with the foul.

I think that Belgium can move this ball much quicker. Eden Hazard. Jan

Vertonghen, with the cross. De Bruyne got their ahead of

Darmian, needs a little bit of help. Giaccherini fluffed his lines. With

all that talent Belgium have on the pitch, they need to move it quickly.

Sometimes feels like you are watching Manchester United and the

way that they played last year, like the handbrake is on.

There has been a feeling in Belgian football around Marc Wilmots as

coach, this is such a once in a generation group, that they must not

let this slip through their fingers and grow up and move on and retire

without having achieved something. The pressure is on the coach to get

the best. Out of the players that he has. The players are potentially

something else. The envy of Europe, the quality that they have.

Good ball. Good covering. Laurent Ciman. Giaccherini making the most

of that gift. Courtois. Decent punch, but no better than decent,

Giaccherini... Fellaini, in quickly, as are... May

open up. Might have done, but it was extremely well defended again by

Bonucci, Darmian... Pelle... Shot. Court was new where it was heading.

Definitely needed to make the net rippled out, testing the goalkeeper,

keeping him honest, but does not have enough bend on it.

Italian free kick. Fellaini is stunned by Mark Clattenburg's

decision. Buffon will, injury permitting,

reach 160 caps at this tournament, for Italy. That is a great ball.

Kept in... Can he get there? He can. Cannot quite beat the Belgian, Jan

Vertonghen. Lukaku, De Bruyne... Suddenly an injection of pace in the

game, Italian pace. They seem to be able to do this, slow it down at

times and then give really good effort. The Nietzsche, he is picking

the pocket every time. It has been a masterclass, so far. Chiellini,

coming forward, it really has been a masterclass. -- Bonucci. Gets his

reward, wants to come forward. So positive, looking for it again.

These Italians know exactly what they are doing, everyone knows their

role and responsibility in this team. Barzagli E, to Bonucci,

getting it down... He is in, and he scores! Fantastic ball to

Giaccherini, who did not hesitate! Belgium are behind to the Italians.

Wonderful goal. The Belgian defence standing around like mannequins,

wonderful pass, on the training ground, great movement, Giaccherini,

ball watching from the defender, great first touch, tucks it away.

With aplomb. Fantastic finish. That is ruthless finishing. Bonucci's

pass... The line... And the Finnish. Talk about top defenders. What about

that for a pass to go with it. The manager supported Giaccherini and he

plays his best stuff for the national team. 1-0, Italy. They may

be, in this game. Never write off the Italians. That is pretty much

something else that the Italian journalist said to me yesterday. The

one he said that Antonio Conte was a maniac. He also said it was the most

Italian team he has seen in 50 years. LAUGHTER

He did! Eden Hazard, what have Belgium got here? Into the box,

slightly unconvincingly, Nainggolan. Great camera angle, look at that.

Picks it up, wait, direction on the ball... Perfect. -- weight. This

Premier League season, one of our best defenders in the Premier

League. Leaves him. Alderweireld. The centre half with the vision and

the execution to find him. Will take the throw in eventually,

Marco Parolo. Courtois at to get everything behind that, lashed in by

Candreva. -- had to. Fantastic from their, he has called for Warriors,

the manager, certainly not holding back. Played extremely well, the

Italians. They have the lead, they have a corner.

Another corner. Wicked ball in, you have to say. The Belgian defence is

all over the place. The ball should not be getting through there.

Fellaini... Pelle got it wide. Should have been two. Unquestionably

should have been two. It is a schoolboy error. Fellaini leaves it

to Lukaku, Lukaku leaves it to Fellaini. Pelle should have put that

away. No one knows who is going for the ball. Suddenly, that is a great

opportunity, missed. What a chance. There is a long way to go in this

game, but the way Italy have played so far, at 2-0 down, you would say

Belgium have a huge problem. Lukaku has given it away. Chiellini.

Looking very awkward, Lukaku. Belgium play on. Kevin De Bruyne has

now gone down in the challenge with Bonucci. Italy have two players down

and Belgium one at the moment. De Rossi is holding the small of his

back. Bonucci was back on his feet, and a little bit more slowly, so is

De Rossi. Well, it is quite a heavy challenge

but he seems to have made a lot of it. The impact was more with the

turf than with Fellaini, I think. It was a foul on Kevin De Bruyne in the

end so we are coming all the way back to take that.

Simon for Belgium. Giaccherini in very quickly. Fellaini... Of course

Bonucci is there. Belgium need their players to stand up and be counted,

needs a reaction from them. We haven't seen anything much from

Kevin De Bruyne so far. It is worth a shot but I think Gianluigi Buffon

knew where that was going. Two more euro 2016 games for you tomorrow,

Austria against Hungary at 5pm, and then our first chance to see

Cristiano Ronaldo in action, it is Portugal against Iceland at 7:30pm

on BBC One. Don't forget, England versus Wales is live on the BBC on

Thursday. We will switch over to BBC One at 1:30pm for that one. Good

ball to Eden Hazard. Candreva with Hazard. He has found Kevin De

Bruyne, who has found some space... Shut down by the ever eager

Chiellini. They just love that, proper defending. Better though from

Kevin De Bruyne. Looking for Fellaini there.

Expectations not that high of Italy, despite the fact they were unbeaten

in qualifying for it, but their performance has certainly been of a

high standard so far. The last five minutes of an

intriguing first half. We are going to learn a thing or two about game

management. The rebound didn't fall kindly for Lukaku. Kevin De Bruyne

with the half chance. Buffon the Peacemaker. Better though from

Belgium. De Bruyne, making a really good run off the ball from a wide

position into a central area. De Rossi is getting a little talking to

from Mark Clattenburg. Very slow, isn't it? Predictable.

Certainly being soaked up by Italy so far, and that little 12-macro

didn't come off. Vermaelen there for Belgium. -- that little one-two.

Fellaini with the downward header. A little less than the sum of their

parts at the moment, Belgium. Just talking about game management,

just doing everything right, getting into the right shape. There's five

across the back now, just seeing it out until half-time. Fellaini has

Bonucci for companies. De Rossi there. They can do no more than

concede a throw and Belgium are hoping to concede this first half on

the front foot. Still no nil nil in this tournament. Mark Clattenburg's

whistle, Italy's free kick. Fellaini is pushing. They both got hold of

each other in fairness, but he just shoved him. He could probably

justifiably argue that Barzagli started that. That is the run there

from De Bruyne. Hazard, running from deep. The bit

of a panicky clearance from Darmian. Just a little taster of what Hazard

is capable of. Pelle in the middle, arm raised, and

he has found him. He couldn't pick out Giaccherini. And now is the

chance to break. De Rossi getting back but it is four onto four, more

white shirts arriving now. Giaccherini, just a little bit of

uncertainty about Italian defending all of a sudden. Giaccherini now

trying to inject a little more composure into it. It was suddenly

end to end there. It is a good ball in as well, Pelle

just cannot get enough on it. Belgium can count themselves

fortunate that they are not 2-0 down because the two chances, the two

best chances by a mighty long way have both gone Italy's away. One

converted, one not. And that is half-time. It is a very good half of

football by Ontario -- Antonio Conte's Italy. Pelle could and

probably should have made it two but at half-time it is 0- one.

Never take any notice of the world rankings, that is something to learn

from this game. Italy went in without any great expectation but

they are delivering, as they so often do, when not fancied. We have

been very impressive, we deserve to be ahead. We have a very simple but

effective game plan. We defend very compact, very high, but that is the

trampoline to play offensive football. We can play wide or to the

Centre forward, behind space. So far we have been excellent, I hope we

can sustain the same intensity for the second half. Impressed by the

Italians? I said before don't step on the Italians because that is one

thing they can do. One thing I am surprised is they are trying to play

from the back, still trying to pass the ball through the line to the

striker. Calm, repetitive passes, but also that pragmatic approach

when they need to defend. Very important for them. I am shocked at

Belgium, number two ranked team. They played exactly into the

Italians' hands. No width. If you can see the Italian players in front

of you, this is food and drink, it is easy. They haven't asked the

Italians one question yet. You are seeing a bunch of talented

individuals but less players that play as a team. It shows the

importance of doing that, there has never been at a rare example than

those 45 minutes. You need to have togetherness, Italian teams have

that in their DNA but I don't sense that togetherness yet with Belgium.

Is it a lack of togetherness or not very good tactics? I think it is a

mix may be, but like Jan Luker said before, individuals. They all want

to be the top players. Everyone has individuals, but what I'm saying is

perhaps they have not been tactically cute enough to play in a

certain way. But what I am saying is simple, as a player sometimes the

manager will tell you something but then sometimes the game takes over

and you play the game. As a wide player, you cannot play a role in

the back three. You are playing the Euros, sometimes it is about passion

and desire, and I don't see that desire. You can blame the coach, but

also you as a player, look in the mirror, are you playing well?

Cracking goal, wasn't it? Very good goal. We have been very good because

we know what to do whenever we have got the ball. You have got players

coming short, going in space, like Giaccherini. The pass is marvellous.

Bonucci with time on the ball can play this kind of pass. Giaccherini

had great timing, his run forward is great, and the control.

This is a great touch, gold, everything you want you have in the

game, if the defender is an absolute nightmare, you can see, standing

there, running behind, you have the wit stop if you have space, he can

run in behind. I feel like I am repeating myself all the time, when

that striker standstill and stands in front of you, he has a nosebleed!

Italians attack too much, he has a nosebleed! When you have a

striker... LAUGHTER These guys have run behind you, when

you have that... Perfect example to show what you are talking about,

Italy's high backline, and Lukaku not taking advantage. Look at that,

you can see the tactics, all in sync, Graziano Pelle, the difference

between the backline and Pelle, compact, not playing through the

middle. You were saying that could be a dream for a striker. Space in

behind, yes. There is space in behind, that line was really high.

We can see that a bit better here, not just Lukaku, De Bruyne? Can he

make a run? No, he has not, it becomes easy for you, especially for

the defenders, you see that, tight, and they go through the middle,

Italy love that. What Italy have done well, they have said, you are

not coming through the middle of us, you have to go wide to get any

opportunities. They had one other opportunity, with Lukaku, you were

really frustrated about his movement. Yes I was, because he did

ever so well at the beginning, De Bruyne was going to get the ball, he

did ever so well. Going behind, open it up, make it big. Turning twice...

Now, make that run, make it easy for the man who is on the ball. That

would have been an easier path. Look at De Bruyne, has a little luck

saying, why did he not run in between. There is a big question

over him, over Lukaku, that should have been one on one, with the

goalkeeper, and if used God, that is a different story. That is what

Lukaku has been waiting for the whole game, but you have to make the

right decisions, smell where the space is, defender knows he's quick,

runs back to the goal, does not even look at the man on the ball. Once

you see the back of the defender, we knew, the striker, you are in

charge. On the other hand, we are well organised! LAUGHTER

We have so many options, we can play wide, Centre forward... Having a lot

of joy getting balls to the front pair. Have you realised how many

players we send in? We are not afraid of playing the ball from the

back. Either ball to the centre forward, we start from there. He can

lay it back. We sent for five players into the box every time.

When you have two central midfielders who are in their two

shields the back four, these balls should not be possible, they should

be shielding, they know the ball will come into Pelle, we set it in

the green room, Gianluca said it, they are so far apart in some ways.

How can that happen? They cannot be that wide open in the middle, that

is why I am thinking, perhaps they should be holding a line. You have

got to put Ms Dembele as a ten, and if you have two holding and not even

being able to shield it properly, sometimes with one it is more

difficult, more difference to cover. -- Melissa

you are screaming, the ball should not come in that quick and that soon

and regular like that. We have seen a lot of teams in this tournament,

1-0 ahead and then they sit back. They had a great opportunity to make

it 2-0. From this corner kick, Graziano Pelle a should have done

better, considering how good he is with his headers. He should have but

the ball in the back of the net. It would have been easier. I don't

think we are going to drop to deep, unless Belgium put us under

tremendous pressure. The idea is going to be to keep going forward

and try to score the second goal. He would have done a bicycle kick,

Gianluca, a younger Gianluca! The rest of today's action, starting

with the other game in the group, the Republic of Ireland against

Sweden. COMMENTATOR: Gets the shot,

goalkeeper parries away, that is what he's capable of doing, Brady.

Did well... Right foot, exploded the shot, over. CO-COMMENTATOR: It is a

good strike. Brady, through the gears. Two ahead of him. Takes the

return, goes for gold, lovely move, rocked the bar! Best move of the

game, by a mile. Hitting it straightaway, he has caressed it

rather than smashed it, very unlucky. -- goes for goal.

Checks back, goes again... Back to the edge of the penalty area... Wes

Hoolahan! Oh yes, yes, yes! How good was that, fantastic technique. What

a lovely strike! Definite perfect contact. With his right. Unbridled

joy! Steps away from his marker.

Brilliant save, deflection, hammered high! Should have scored,

opportunity from nowhere. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, goes to put it

back... Larson is in there, it may have gone in off Clark. Own goal,

nothing worse. He has got to deal with that. He has got it

spectacularly wrong. COMMENTATOR: Good ball from Sergio

Ramos. Supported by David Silva. Good save by Petr Cech, straight

into his midriff, by Morata. Unable to turn it past Cech. Morata. Fetes

to shoot, does the second time, inches wide. It is a case of nearly

but not quite for Spain, on more than one occasion in the first half.

Hooked clear. Thomas Rosicky... Pressure unrelenting from Spain,

chance, and a goal! Gerard Pique, finally, the defending champions are

up and running, with three and a half minutes remaining of the 90.

Gerard Pique, not sit home. Spanish patience pays off. -- nods it home.

Can they create an opening late in the day to snatch a draw, good save

by David de Gea, beaten away by the goalkeeper. So close to an

equalising goal. In added time. Might just not be their day. STUDIO:

Tomorrow it is time for this man... Wonderful movement, took his time,

picked his spot, he has done it, could it be his tournament?!

You lay there, sleeping, forgotten by the outside world. The dragon

under the mountain. Something has stirred.

Enter the Dragon! Wales against England, live on BBC.

All matches are available on the iPlayer, as is this. We should talk

about some of these sites I would like to see, I really want to see

Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Houses of

Parliament... Do you know where that is?

The two teams are out, let's rejoin the commentators.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you very much, not all of the two teams are out, we

are waiting for Jan and Buffon. There is no one in the Italian net

at the moment, I'm sure that Mark Clattenburg, the referee, has

noticed. -- Gianluigi Buffon. Very good path for the Italians but I'm

sure that Marc Wilmots will have had words to say to his team and will be

looking for improvement. They have not turned up, much more passion,

tactically the Italians have been far better. We have not seen Hazard

or De Bruyne on the ball. Lukaku is a tiger at times but tonight he has

been a pussycat. I hope they have had words at half-time. But the

Italians have been first class. No substitution from either manager so

far. Belgium zero, Italy one. We will see if they play it into the

white editions. It is a nightmare, when the ball goes in where the

fullback should be. I have played Italy three times. -- -- wide

positions. Graziano Pelle a has put too much on that pass. I thought he

was excellent in the first half. Lane things off. -- laying. Five in

13 for his country, late to international football.

Around the corner, nicely done. Opportunity to find a white shirt,

Fellaini for Belgium. You can't just play when you have the ball, you

have got to defend as well. Thomas Vermaelen, onto the head of

Chiellini. Came off Eden Hazard's left arm, the

throw in has been given. How easy was that? Good defending at the end,

but very desperate. Bonucci, showing them how to defend.

-- Pelle. Will not reach that. The angles are therefore Italy to find,

for the runners. Yes, those diagonals.

Just got a little more involved at the end of the first half,

Manchester City man, De Bruyne. He has got a great temperament, De

Bruyne. The Italians will know they will not underestimate him, he will

have a good spell in this match. Nicely done from Graziano Pelle.

The bounce was just too much. For Antonio Candreva. It is pinning

Belgium back all the time though, isn't it? No surprise to see Belgium

substitutes warming up. Seen some good uses of substitutions

in this tournament already. Thibaut Courtois with the time to

make it comfortable. Flag up against Lukaku. Jake Colin over there.

Fairly comfortable start of the second half for the Italians. You

wondered if tactically they might change something, maybe bring Hazard

more central, play closer to Lukaku. Only ones Antonio Conte's charge

have they failed to score, that was against Portugal in the friendly.

The only side to Scott Belgium from scoring since the 2014 World Cup was

Wales, which they did twice in qualifying for these finals. That is

what are hoping to do. -- what Italy are hoping to do.

That pass by De Bruyne was almost typical of the Belgian performance.

No football team can assume greatness, greatness always has to

be earned. Chiellini just couldn't get away

from Denayer. Here is the Tongan. It is just surprising how easy the

Italians are going through the Belgian team. The screen for the

Belgian midfielder is just nonexistent.

Candreva in the middle... Excellent recovery. Really good recovery from

the Tongan but look how annoyed he is. Rightly so, there is so much

time in the middle of the park. It is a great challenge, he has come

from nowhere to make that, risking everything. Great defending.

Candreva with a corner kick for Italy, half cleared by Simon.

That is a lovely weighted ball, brilliant from De Bruyne. Is this

Lukaku's moment? No, it is not. As good as we have seen all day from

Belgium. It is a fantastic break, De Bruyne, just that touch out of his

feet. A very difficult angle for him off that left foot, tries to further

it into the goal. Just didn't hit it with any real conviction. For a

player of that quality, he should be hitting the back of the net. It was

wide enough from the Italian point of view. That wasn't a very good

clearance. Candreva. Pelle denied by Thibaut Courtois. He beat the ground

in frustration. That is goalkeeping of the highest order, isn't it?

Buffon said he set the benchmark, he did it with that save the there. The

game is opening up. Hazard skips away from Candreva, feeds

Nainggolan. This could be an excellent second half. Jan

Vertonghen for Belgium. Jan Vertonghen is claiming handball

off the Italian but no intent. The key for the goalkeeper, Buffon, was

to get that moving. The Italians in the past would have hung on to that.

Here comes Chiellini. Still Chiellini, defended by Simon,

cleanly won. Going for it now. Yes. Eden Hazard

on the turn did well. Buffon treated it with respect and it needed it.

Good goalkeeping, stinging shot. He twists and turns, Hazard. Screaming

at his team-mates. That is what it takes, a wake-up call, and they have

got to sustain that. Good run that, Lukaku. Poor control.

That ball has to stick. Pelle is doing it for Italy. Behind off the

header. Belgium have a corner and they are beginning to cause Buffon

and company some really tangible difficulties now. Barzagli there,

difficult ball to deal with. They are being tested now. De Bruyne with

this corner kick. I think Fellaini is the man being penalised again, on

Chiellini this time. Thibaut Courtois's save is just outstanding,

isn't it? Look how high he has got. The player is coming off for Italy,

a slight delay because the official put the wrong number up. De Sciglio

is coming on, the man from the land. -- from Milan. Good ball up by

Candreva, really dangerous. Tremendous down the right-hand side

on his day. He is asking a lot of questions of the Tongan. Keeps

putting the ball in the box. Defend this.

Caught two minds a little. That is a flaying clearance from Vermaelen.

Just controlling things, Italy, not really being pressed. Eder tried to

run in behind. Excellent game of football now. That is great the way

he takes that fall there, better defending this time. Good movement,

long ball down the middle. They have such a good start to the season,

Eder, before moving on to Inter. Not so effective there. Again, there is

no screen. In to Pelle, just too simple. No foul.

That's dangerous. Chiellini dealt with it. Substitute will become a

non-shortly for Belgium and it is Nainggolan coming off. There is no

surprise there, he has hardly been in the game.

Little under half an hour to go. The Belgian corner headed out by De

Rossi and headed out well. Eden Hazard. That is nicely done. De

Bruyne, too far in front of Lukaku. Just a heavy cross, there is too

much on it. Couldn't control it. I think Merton 's is coming out to

play on this left-hand side. -- Mertens. I would have thought, if

you are looking for a goal and you can play Hazard as a number ten,

then you would, in preference to Fellaini.

I think the back career are quite happy to see Hazard playing that far

back by his defence. Here is Mertens.

Lukaku became Everton 's top scorer in the season for 30 years in the

campaign just finished. That did looks suspiciously like

handball by Marco Parolo, but play goes on. Jan Vertonghen may squeeze

in a pass, he has done. But no movement in the box, does not seem

to exhibit the same desire, as the Italians, they are really flying

into the box when they have an attack.

Nicely done by Marco Parolo. Giaccherini coming in as well.

Header by Ciman and it has found its way back to Giaccherini. Chiellini,

now. The two front players for Italy, it is amazing, the space they

are getting. Mistake by Chiellini... Pulled back. That is going to be a

yellow card. Without any question at all.

Professional foul. Wasn't going to be catching as are their -- wasn't

going to be catching Hazard there. Just drifted wide, now looking to

cut inside. Vertonghen. Mertens. He has not had the best

night so far. He's wearing somebody else's boots tonight. The

Getting good support from behind the goal, Belgium.

Pelle has just gone off the pitch. I think he has dislocated something.

They are... Trying to put his finger back in! Mertens! Trying to do too

much, maybe, could not wriggle through them all. Eden Hazard. Italy

down to ten men with Graziano Pelle I off the pitch. I'm not sure that

he realised he was off the pitch, De Rossi, eager for the ball to go out

of play, Italy will want to get Graziano Pelle a back on, his

finger, maybe his thumb, it has been relocated. De Rossi could not find a

way out, wanted to put it out of play. He has dislocated his

finger... That is quite a painful one. I have had bad. One of those

look away now moments. Asks the doctor if it hurts, he

says, of course! A chance for Italy to regroup, get a drink, stick to

the plan. No way through, good defending.

Italy were unbeaten in qualifying for Euro 2016, they are unbeaten in

qualifying for World Cup and European Championships matches in

ten years! 50 matches since 2006 and is anybody beat them in qualifying.

Eden Hazard, might make something of this.

Fellaini, could not reach it, Chiellini stood his ground.

Interesting to see how the Italians cope with Fellaini. Renowned for

being good in the air, great defending, uses his body, price the

goal. -- prize him away from the goal. The final ball has got to be

better, made a better run this time. Suddenly filled with a wave of

optimism. Just caught by Mertens. We will find

out in a minute who is going to come off Ford Divock Origi. -- come off

for Divock Origi. Just hit form for Liverpool in the spring when he got

injured in the Merseyside derby. Came back in to appear as a late

substitute in the Europa League final. All these stoppages, stopping

Belgium from gaining any momentum in the match. Straight pass, straight

into the front man. Candreva. Marshalling, patrolling, Barzagli.

In front of the back three, for Italy. Just sits there, ticking

along. He knows his role in the team. As everyone them does. -- as

every one of them does. They work really well off each other.

Witsel, to Mertens. Lukaku's touch not good enough. They will not give

you a moments peace, those defenders.

At the back post, with Hazard, but Italy very aware of it. He has come

on, I don't know why he has not been on from the start, perfect start. --

swap. Evoke the really coming on for Belgium, Lukaku coming. -- Divock

Origi coming on for Belgium. One big chance for Romelu Lukaku. Did not

take it. So disappointing. Do not underestimate Divock Origi, massive

improvement since Jurgen Klopp has been at the ball. Maybe lost some

sharpness, he got injured for a while, but he will test these

defenders. Thomas Vermaelen forward. Buffon.

Well won. Candreva in a chase with the tongue. -- Vertonghen.

Danger. Giaccherini, deflection, corner, corner to Italy. Italy

edging ever closer. Candreva is out here, spellbound, runs made off the

midfield. Simple. Giaccherini pulled his shot in the end. Ciro Immobile

will be on shortly, for Italy, but they have a corner first. Clear out

by Axel Witsel, helped on by Laurent Ciman. Dries Mertens, pulled back.

Rather like Chiellini's a free moments ago, easy decision.

He has taken one for his team. It is almost like tactical bookings,

slowing everything down. Having been booked, he will be replaced. That

will be the last thing he does tonight. No complaints for that, he

has played exceptionally well. Belgium making their change as well,

bringing on Yannick Carrasco, Ciro Immobile has come on for Italy.

Laurent Ciman goes off, Yannick Carrasco, replacing a full-back, he

is a winner. -- winger. Didn't he school recently, when he

came on as a sub? Scored for Atletico Madrid, in the Champions

League final, which they ultimately lost.

De Bruyne, Divock Origi... Good persistence. Just take it away from

Mertens. This will be a fascinating last 15 minutes. Good play from

Divock Origi, better run from him as well, which started it all.

Alderweireld, for Belgium. Mertens, straight to Chiellini. Ciro

Immobile, after it. Vertonghen. Thiago Motta is going to be Italy's

last change, coming thick and fast, the substitutions.

Lovely backheel from Giaccherini. He has played well, Giaccherini.

Extremely well. On the left-hand side, coming on to his right foot.

Saying that, he gives it away. Divock Origi now. He has been

called, Bonucci, yellow card. -- caught Another tactical booking.

He has played well. Bonucci has been terrific. Divock Origi a little too

quick, he is giving Belgium something else, something extra.

Chiellini and the need she need to be careful now, they are both on

yellow cards. -- Bonucci. De Rossi is coming off. Thiago Motta is

coming on. De Bruyne with the free kick, and

Buffon with a very confident take. Using his experience there, I love

to see the keepers coming and taking it. Marc Wilmots has made good use

of his squad. You cannot argue with the team

selection. Tremendous by Parolo. He has been

everywhere as well. Given away. De Bruyne has a little bit of room,

but not as much as he needed. Thiago Motta closed the door. Look at the

passion he has. Chiellini, well timed on Divock Origi. They are

going to have to not give the ball away, Italy, otherwise Belgium will

come and come. The high ball to Fellaini might become more of a

feature in the closing moments. Too straight, deflected though. Corner.

It is a slender lead that Italy have. Merton is with this corner

kick for Belgium. -- Mertens. Italy are losing their discipline

little bit, becoming panicky. I get the feeling this might be

along last ten minutes for Italy. Corner again.

Back in by De Bruyne! And Divock Origi behind him. For once the

Italian switching off, too much space. Just a glance, he gets too

much on it. Buffon tells his defence, look around you, pick-up.

He has done well to get up from that challenge.

Hazard, who the Italians fought they have backed him into a corner, Eden

Hazard, but illegally in the opinion of Mark Clattenburg.

Has out by Thiago Motta and he gets a yellow card. It is time to start

sending these Belgium full-backs forward. I cannot believe they

haven't started pushing forward at this stage of the game. The free

kick taken quickly. Over Chiellini, Divock Origi tried

the acrobatic. Fellaini is going mad at the post. Brilliant stop from

Thibaut Courtois. Ignoring Pelle to his right hand side. Looks like he's

hanging in the air, this goalkeeper. Majestic save. They have had their

chances, Italy, but they might pay. There is danger for Belgium, they

could lose another one trying to get one back.

Put out by Divock Origi for another Italian corner.

Thibaut Courtois is there, Parolo was sniffing. I cannot believe Pelle

is getting to that ball at all. Basic defending.

He has got to get that ball in, Hazard. Queueing up in the box.

Turning this way and that. Alderweireld, Origi... Relief for

Italy. I thought it was a better save than

that, he makes it look so dramatic the way he flies through the air. It

was a hard in the mouth moment. -- heart in the mouth moment. Eden

Hazard, Bonucci back on his feet. Alderweireld got their ahead of

Barzagli. Can Fellaini get on the end of one

of these corners? Mark Clattenburg's whistle puts everything on hold

because Chiellini and Fellaini have been getting involved with each

other, which will be a surprise to absolutely no one. He has got his

arms around his throat. The referee will keep his eyes on that. In comes

the corner kick. Didn't quite get the flick he was looking for and

Italy on the break once again. Immobile couldn't quite get it

through, De Bruyne had retreated. That is a goal kick to Belgium.

There is still time, not a lot but there is still time. The Italians

just keep giving a taste on the break. They have been so composed,

so disciplined for so long, Italy, that their composure has just

wobbled a little bit in the last few minutes. Belgium sensing there might

be something in this for them just yet. It is going to take something

special. They have got the players to do it.

Lovely little drop of the shoulder, Mertens still in a brilliant

position. About the only position where there wasn't a red and black

shirt. Origi mystic, Fellaini missed it, and Buffon ends up with the ball

in his gloves and treats it like a newborn baby. Great ball in. Origi,

how has he missed that? He was almost trying too hard to get too

much power on it. Fellaini, you cannot blame him, it has just come

up so quickly. Thiago Motta for Italy. Heading for the corner flag,

possibly following instructions from Immobile, but he has not got what he

wanted. We are about to move into added time.

It would be harsh on Italy but it doesn't mean to say it won't happen.

Italy have been excellent, just got to finish off the job now. Mertens,

that is a lovely wriggling run a moment ago. Parolo, brilliant

defending. The referee says play on. The free kick has been awarded.

And a yellow card for Jan Vertonghen. For his reaction. The

first Belgian yellow card of the game. Their frustration in these

closing seconds grows because they have got to get the ball now. If

they had controlled that, Belgium might not have seen the ball again

before the whistle went. Bonucci has got cramp as well, could hardly pull

his leg back but still a great strike from him. Here is Giaccherini

again. The Jack in the box, Giaccherini. Pelle might go alone,

finds Candreva... Must be now, and it is! From Pelle, it is 2-0 to

Italy. Wonderful, wonderful Italian victory! And a king-size

celebration. You know it is a special moment when

a man like Buffon, who has done absolutely everything in the game,

runs the length of the field to join in the celebrations. How about this

for a finish. Icing on the cake. Perfect professional performance

from Italy, and what about that for a finish. Kept it down nicely. Made

it look easy. He has missed one or two in this game, Pelle, but oh boy,

he took that all right. Mark Clattenburg has blown his whistle.

Italy top Group E and Belgium are bottom of it. Who would have thought

that? Wonderful Italian display, capped off by the Pelle goal in

added time, after Giaccherini had given them the lead in the first

half. Belgium, disappointing. Italy, excellent, and the celebrations from

Italy will go a long into the night. STUDIO: Roll out Italy at your

peril, low expectations coming into the tournament, great opening-day

victory against Belgium, and overall, you have to say, they

deserve it, counterattack staff at the end to make it 2-0, Luca, you

are delighted, I can tell. I am very happy, I do not want to brag too

much, I say this only once, because it is the opening game, you have got

to play another six games before you win this, but I think that today we

were incredibly impressive, we were almost perfect. I thought that we

dominated the game, and the organisation, the discipline, the

desire, the commitments... We played like a team, we had so many options

when we were in possession, we defended very well, unlike Belgium,

we really looked like a good team. Perfect example of seeing one team

that plays like a team, a unit, structural organisation, and a

collection of individuals. They were undone completely, whenever somebody

got the ball in the Italian team, they understand where to go on the

pitch, they know exactly the direction of where they wanted to

go, taking the ball forward. What I was impressed with, the ability to

spring from defence to attack so quickly, and create chances. One of

the things for me, which Antonio Conte has brought to the team, is

discipline, intensity, they all know what they need to do. Defensively.

As a player, when you know what you have to do, when you have the ball,

you know that you have the option to play short, wide, ten, nine, you are

so much more comfortable when you have options like that, when you

know you have them. Sometimes even at the back, when they should clear

the ball, they were bringing it down and passing the ball, because they

know that they have options. STUDIO: Italy top the group,

Republic of Ireland and Sweden both off the mark following their draw.

Group favourites Belgium are bottom. Unusual to see an Italian side with

a one goal lead but still trying to get forward, playing open at times.

The biggest mistake we could have made was to start defending too deep

and allow the pressure to build up. In fairness, Belgium had a couple of

chances, but I thought that we never lost our heads, we kept defending

properly, we kept counterattacking. We had a game plan, we executed it

very well. The first goal, Italy's first goal, went to Giaccherini,

terrific bit of play. Terrific bit of play, if you run in behind, the

timing is right, the guy that gives you the ball, then at times it is

impossible to defend. I suppose you could say... Perhaps he could have

done something better... What you think about Alderweireld, his first

reaction after he turns around, the ball hits him, his reaction is,

where is the full-back? He has got to be tight to him, that visual

security. All back coming in, as your team is coming out slowly, you

cannot have that. Both of them could have had positioned a bit better. I

think what happened, Rio, we played the ball to the feet of Pelle, then

we played it wide for ten minutes, so at that point, nobody was

expecting that, options. It was a great spin, we had to wait and all

fully long time for the second goal, it went to Pelle. Vein the ball

through the lines, Belgian chasing at this stage. Goes in, patience,

calm, this is beautiful technique. Reminds me of myself... (!) in your

dreams! LAUGHTER Beautiful, typified the Italian

performance, counter attack, calm, cool, collected, they knew what they

were doing and they were very assured... The most assured

performance I have seen, alongside probably the Germans. I would put

Spain along with that, the control they had on the ball, but also with

Germany, killing a team at the end. They were in control of the game.

Belgium had a couple of chances to go back into it, we have seen the

guys doing this type of folly, time and time again and scoring. Clearly

talking about a team, there is a togetherness. I love that! It is the

first game of the tournament, they are celebrating like they have one!

That would have killed me if I saw them doing that in front of me but

also I would have said to myself, you know what, that is a great

togetherness, they deserve to win, good on them. The goalkeeper got a

nose bleed on the first goal! LAUGHTER

That is how they are enjoying it. They have a plan, I love how they

played. Belgium overall struggled, one or two chances towards the end,

made more of a fist of its towards the latter stages, you do not want

to concentrate on someone who has had a poor night but Lukaku was

abject. He plays well, rightly so. As ever so well on that. He should

have been on that, it should have been one-on-one comedy

-- should have been one-on-one, De Bruyne is upset about it. Here he

has the chance that he wanted. Again, De Bruyne gives him the ball,

and he wants to go under the ball... We can see on the replay, the last

one, he'd is not... He does not really go under it, to lift it and

he misses it. At times, he was passive... His back to the game.

You have got to do too much if you want to create problems for the back

three... Bonucci, as Ali, -- bizarrely, they are not the best

individually, but together they are great, they are not Maldini. --

Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini. They love defending, they cover it

other's back. I stand by what I have said, the whole is much bigger than

the sum of its parts. Playing with two at the back they can be

vulnerable, but three of them? The Italians love defending. They get so

excited about their defending, and you are a striker! What is wrong

with you? LAUGHTER Today, they were first rate. Divock

Origi came on, we saw him coming on for Romelu Lukaku, he certainly got

occasions to score, but he could not finish it off. Seems like someone

who is a rough diamond, but he has energy, new moves, and as soon as he

came on, you saw a little bit more industriousness in the way that the

blade. It was more than what we saw of Romelu Lukaku in the whole game.

This little cameo. Great feat here. When the chances... This is where

he's really good, when the chances come his way he can be a little bit

rash. You have got to guide this through. I am no striker but just

guided The way they finished the game, that

line-up was better, stronger, more balanced. The way that Belgium

finished. I think that Hazard struggles to defend at times. He

does, generally. If you play him as a ten, give him something of a

shield behind him, with a couple of guys, Mertens, free role, De Bruyne

perhaps. This is the guy that is going to make you win. He likes to

face the game. He can face the full-back and it can be one-on-one.

With Antonio Conte going to Chelsea next year, if he does not run, he

will be out. Judging by the weather the Italians ran for each other,

yes. We thought that Belgium lacked any real width. If you stand in

front of me, I think even I can defend(!) the Italians wanted this,

they can do this, all night, although, all tournament, look at

this on the other side. You have got to move the back three, they become

a back five, almost, you have got to move them, and you create spaces

within the box with the width. And Lukaku and Hazard and Divock Origi

can run into it. Defend the box. You have to be the perfect shot from

outside the box to score. I used to get mad at the bosses in training

because they did not give us the width to work on defence and I would

say, what are you doing, in the game you can never play like that but

that is how Belgium played, you could have taken that away and that

away. They made the pitch too narrow. Bad coaching? It must be

instructions? I think it is difficult when you have players like

that, managing to find the right balance between discipline and

freedom. It seems to me that with Belgium, too much freedom and not

enough discipline. Here is what is coming up in the

next two days, Cristiano Ronaldo enters the stage tomorrow.

On Wednesday, England and Wales will be watching on intensely, as there

are group opponents Russia and Slovakia meet in Lille. And then it

is the big one. I must ask this of you, England,

what shall we see? The promise, and only that? Of ancients turned grey?

Still the shackles, the Irons. Rise, like lions.

Looking forward to that one, England against Wales is on Thursday, the

most eagerly anticipated game in the group stages. Well, in Britain,

anyway, live on the BBC, 1pm. And then it is BBC One, all the way from

1:30pm, if you are in work, you can watch it on the BBC sport website or

app, get permission first, obviously! We are pretty much out of

time, I trust you are taking us all out to dinner. Thank you very much.

That is it from us, Italy have won their first European Championship

opening game for 16 years, this Antonio Conte seems to know what he

is doing, somebody should snap him up(!) COMMENTATOR: This is a big

head to head, this is a big one. Giaccherini is in! He scores! He did

not hesitate. Beaten in the air, free header. He has put it wide. Is

this the moment for Lukaku? It is not... No football team can assume

greatness, it must always be earned. Must be and it is, Graziano Pelle,

2-0, Italy! Wonderful Their own war heroes are arming

themselves to march on the palace.