:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/bb06d7a8-caf6-11eb-b813-02d1dbdc35d1.jpg "Flashy Italy simply puts Turkey aside and experiences the dream start of the European Championship | European Football Championship")
sport">From Azzurri have immediately positioned themselves as one of the title candidates at this European Championship with the flying start. The pain of the missed World Cup in Russia has resolutely put the Italians under Mancini away and that has resulted in an impressive run of 28 games in a row without defeat. In the last exhibition game before the tournament, the Italians had already won 4-0 against European Championship participant Czech Republic.
sport">Turkey started the game in Rome with fear in its legs. The team of national coach Senol Günes was so focused on eliminating the Italians that the game in possession was downright poor. After the break, the defensive Turkish structure also collapsed. The Azzurri took the lead when a hard cross from Domenico Berardi by the Turkish defender Merih Demiral went into his own goal. Not much later, Ciro Immobile doubled the margin by reacting sharply to a rebound, which Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir gave away.
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Merih Demiral helps Italy to a 1-0 lead.
Ⓒ AFP
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Danny Makkelie
sport">The match was well led by Danny Makkelie. Just before half time, a decision by the Dutch referee did lead to a lot of discussion among the Italians. UEFA has instructed the arbiters for the tournament to be less likely to award hand penalties after the boom in those types of penalties earlier this season.
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Danny Makkelie hands the ball to Turkey captain Burak Yilmaz.
Ⓒ REUTERS
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sport">The Italians argued that Zeki Celik did not have his arm along the body with Leonardo Spinazzola’s cross and thus blocked the ball, but in the eyes of Makkelie there was a normal body position and therefore no punishable hands. If this line is followed consistently throughout this tournament, there will be few hand penalties.
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Ciro Immobile protests at Danny Makkelie.
Ⓒ BSR Agency
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Turkey powerless
sport">Italy was not put off by this and rolled up Turkey after the break. The dominant Italians had already had good chances in the first half through Lorenzo Insigne, Ciro Immobile and old soldier Giorgio Chiellini, whose header was just tapped over the crossbar by Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
sport">Turkey was totally powerless offensively. The crafty striker Burak Yilmaz, who scored three more times against the Orange, could not be brought into position at all. In the final phase, Halil Dervisoglu made his European Championship debut. The Rotterdammer of Turkish origin played anonymously at FC Twente before the winter break, decided to seek refuge in the Turkish top club Galatasaray in January and promptly managed to play himself in the European Championship selection. Dervisoglu, who recently scored against Azerbaijan on his debut, could not turn the tide anymore and even took yellow.
sport">The final chord was for the Italians, for whom Lorenzo Insigne made the 3-0 after a serious mistake in the build-up with the Turks.
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Lorenzo Insigne puts Italy at 3-0.
Ⓒ AFP
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