Italy was the first team to book their place in the 16-year-olds in this summer’s Euro 2020 after they sailed to a 3-0 victory over Switzerland on Wednesday night.
Roberto Mancini’s side thought they had opened the scoring halfway through the first half after Giorgio Chiellini fired home, but his joy was limited by a VAR decision pointing to a handball in the build-up.
Italy did not have to wait long to break the deadlock when Manuel Locatelli finished a fantastic move before the Sassuolo man doubled his and his team’s mood in the second half with a nice long strike.
Mancini’s side secured the three points late when Ciro Immobile’s effort slipped under the hands of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer to confirm Italy’s place in the knockout rounds.
Let’s get to the Italian and Swiss player ratings …
Chiellini hobbled away / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) – 6/10 – Just had a shot on goal to tackle the whole evening and did whatever he asked.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo (RB) – 6/10 – Stepped in for the injured Alessandro Florenzi and could not have asked for a much more comfortable evening.
Leonardo Bonucci (CB) – 7/10 – Managed the early change in the midfield partner and looked steady all the time.
Giorgio Chiellini (CB) – 6/10 – Thought he had opened the scoring early just to be denied a VAR check that chalked up his goal for a handball in the build-up. Was recalled shortly after due to an injury.
Leonardo Spinazzola (LB) – 7/10 – Not quite the painful performance we saw from him in Italy’s first trip to Turkey, but still effective.
Manuel Locatelli was superb in midfield / Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
Jorginho (DM) – 7/10 – The Chelsea man kept things ticking in midfield and helped pull his side up the pitch with progressive passing.Nicolo Barella (CM) – 7/10 – Caught an assist for Locatelli’s second and was busy in midfield throughout the match.
Manuel Locatelli (CM) – 9/10 – Tonight’s excellent artist. Produced a fantastic late run to get to the end of Domenico Berardi’s cross to open the scoring and then doubled his lead with a brilliant strike in the bottom corner.
Lorenzo Insigne could not get on the points page / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Domenico Berardi (RW) – 7/10 – Great game to put Locatelli’s first night on a plate for him. Much better performance than we saw against Turkey.
Ciro Immobile (ST) – 7/10 – Had to wait until the final stages to get his goal, but deserved it thoroughly after leading the line well.
Lorenzo Insigne (LW) – 7/10 – Picked up small pockets with space between the Swiss back line and the midfield and was a threat all evening.
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Francesco Acerbi (CB) – 6/10 – Introduced early in the game and did well to take the pace.
Federico Chiesa (LW) – 6/10
Rafael Toloi (CB) – 6/10
Matteo Pessina (CM) – Not applicable
Bryan Cristante (CM) – N / A
Yann Sommer looks to keep his side in the game / Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
Yann Sommer (GK) – 4/10 – Not much he could do for any of Italy’s first two goals but the third night should easily have been kept out.
Kevin Mbabu (RWB) – 5/10 – Could not contain Lorenzo Insigne and would love to see the back of the Napoli man.
Nico Elvedi (CB) – 6/10 – Not much he could do about any of the goals and clearly struggled when Switzerland switched to back four. Still stuck to his task and was belligerent all the time.
Fabian Schar (CB) – 4/10 – The Newcastle man got the run through the top three in Italy and looked like he saw stars at the end of the game.
Manuel Akanji (CB) – 5/10 – Stood by Immobile and allowed him far too much time to choose his place and put the game without a doubt.
Ricardo Rodriguez (LWB) – 5/10 – Was the key to his team’s game against Wales but could barely get out of their own half tonight and was nowhere near as effective.
Granit Xhaka started in midfield / Alberto Lingria – Pool / Getty Images
Remo Freuler (CM) – 5/10 – Gets absolutely no chance against Italy’s unpleasant midfield. Can’t really mark him too much because he didn’t do much wrong, he just could not get close to the opposition.
Granit Xhaka (CM) – 5/10 – See above. Completely exceeded in the middle of the field and did not get much help from his colleagues.
Xherdan Shaqiri (AM) – 4/10 – Who? The Liverpool midfielder barely got a touch of the ball during the first half. A little more active in others but nowhere near.
Breel Embolo looks like a challenge / Alberto Lingria – Pool / Getty Images
Breel Embolo (ST) – 5/10 – Nowhere near as effective as he was last out against Wales and really struggled given the lack of service in him.
Haris Seferovic (ST) – 5/10 – Fought as much as his strike partner and was eaten up by the Italian back line.
Mario Gavranovic entered the second half / Naomi Baker / Getty Images
Mario Gavranovic (ST) – 5/10
Steven Zuber (CM) – 6/10
Silvan Widmer (RB) – 6/10
Ruben Vargas (RW) – 6/10
Djibril Sow (CM) – Not applicable
