Belgium 0 Italy 2: Sunderland flop Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle on target as impressive Azzurri upset pre-tournament favourites
Italy produce well-drilled performance to mark impressive win over Marc Wilmots' highly fancied Red Devils
A BLOODY nose for the new king of Stamford Bridge — the same for Belgium’s much-touted wonder-boys.
And there’s no doubt which hurt most, as the team tipped to take Europe by storm proved England aren’t the only ones with a Golden Generation who can cock it up.
All because of a misfit midfielder rejected by Sunderland who dished out a Euro lesson to the Premier League’s creme de la creme.
No wonder Antonio Conte, moving in as Chelsea gaffer after the Euros, had a smile as wide as the Seine on the final whistle.
We came to marvel at Eden Hazard, to be wowed by Kevin De Bruyne, to gasp at Romelu Lukaku.
We wanted to see exactly why Radja Nainggolan was being touted as the man Chelsea were willing to spend £35million on this summer.
We left hailing 31-year-old Emanuele Giaccherini, a man deemed not good enough for Sunderland who arrived in France on the back of a dismal loan season at Bologna.
Giaccherini had far more lows than highs as his side finished Serie A in 14th place.
But he finished last night on top of the world . . . or the Euros at least.
He was certainly Italy’s Eman for all seasons, with a cool, calm, clinical finish which leaves Belgium on the ropes.
Not bad for someone who would almost certainly have been on the bench at best had Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti been fit.
Even if his golden moment did leave Conte clearing blood from his face in the aftermath.
The soon-to-be Blues boss spent the rest of the first-half dabbing away with a hankie thanks to over exuberant Italians on the touchline.
Whether it was his nose, his lip, or his cheek was not entirely clear.
Not that it was of the slightest concern.
All that mattered was the team many Italians reckoned was the worst this famous football nation had ever sent to a major finals had once again come up trumps.
And they ended it with breathing space as Graziano Pelle volleyed home Antonio Candreva’s last-gasp cross.
But it was that initial sucker punch which really left the Red Devils on the canvas.
A right-hander which will leave Toby Alderweireld with nightmares for years.
The Tottenham defender was caught on his heels as wily old Leonardo Bonucci drifted in a ball from halfway.
An Italy fan shows her support
Admittedly it was bang on the money, but Vermaelen was reeling like a pub drunk as he backtracked, Giaccherini controlled it with one touch, and clipped home with the next.
Pelle then went close but headed wide of a huge target.
No matter . . . his moment would come.
But it was a miserable night for Lukaku, who did little to justify why any of the Champions League big guns should prise him from Everton.
His only serious attacking contribution was a cute header to tee up Nainggolan for a 25-yarder which stung Gianluigi Buffon’s fingertips.
At the other end Thibaut Courtois made two superb saves to push away a Pelle header and then a rasper from sub Ciro Immobile.
But he was helpless as Belgium pushed, Italy broke, and Pelle found his shooting boots at last.
Maybe these Italians aren’t as bad as we all thought after all.
DREAM TEAM PLAYER RATINGS
BELGIUM: Courtois 6, Ciman 7 (Carrasco 75, 6), Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 6, Vermaelen 7, Nainggolan 6 (Mertens 62, 6), Witsel 7, Hazard 7, Fellaini 8, De Bruyne 7, Lukaku 6 (Origi 73, 5)
BOOKED
Vertonghen
ITALY: Buffon 7, Barzagli 7, Bonucci 7, Chiellini 7, Candreva 8, Darmian 6 (De Sciglio 59, 6), De Rossi 6 (Motta 78, 6), Parolo 7, Giaccherini 7, Pelle 8, Eder 6 (Immobile 75, 5)
BOOKED
Eder, Bonucci, Chiellini, Motta
STAR MAN
Marouane Fellaini
