Euro 2020: ‘A beautiful evening,’ says Italy boss Mancini after win over Turkey

Italy’s Ciro Immobile celebrates scoring against Turkey during the UEFA Euro match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Friday. Pic/AFP

Italy got their Euro campaign off the mark with an impressive 3-0 win over Turkey in the curtain-raiser for the postponed continental tournament in front of their home fans in Rome on Friday.

Playing their first major tournament in five years after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, all the goals came in the second half in front of a Stadio Olimpico that was filled to a quarter of its capacity. Merih Demiral's own goal put Italy ahead before Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne netted for Roberto Mancini's side in the Group A opener.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini

The win capped an emotional night in the Italian capital which saw 16,000 fans return to the Stadio Olimpico.

Happy fans

"It was important to start well in Rome and I think it's a satisfaction for the public and for Italians," said Mancini, whose side are now on a 28-match unbeaten run. "There was a lot of help from the crowd. It was a beautiful evening, I hope there are many others, but there are still six more for Wembley."

"We were hoping for another result, but Italy was dominant," said Turkey coach Senol Gunes. "The first goal changed things in the second half and we lost control of the game."

Party atmosphere

There was a party atmosphere, with a spectacular sound and light show and firework display before kick-off for the opening of the month-long 24-team event, which will be played across 11 countries.

There was a performance by the Italian National Police orchestra, a parade of huge inflatable balloons on the pitch, tenor Andrea Bocelli sang Nessun Dorma before a virtual performance from Martin Garrix, Bono and The Edge.

Former Italy World Cup winners Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti, who played for Lazio and Roma during their careers at the Stadio Olimpico, carried the ball to the centre of the pitch before kick-off.

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