'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Italy traveled to the Rheinpark Stadium to take on Liechtenstein in the Matchday-8 Euro 2020 qualifying fixture, and the Azurri decimated the hosts in a 5-0 victory.
Juventus winger Federico Bernardeschi opened the scoring inside the first two minutes and from then on, there was never any doubt what the result of the fixture was going to be.
The home side did hold on for the rest of the first half and most of the second before a total capitulation in the last 20 minutes saw them concede four goals. Andrea Belotti continued his fine form by grabbing a brace, in addition to strikes by Alessio Romagnoli and Stephan El Shaarawy.
Trending
Here, we look at three talking points from the fixture between Italy and Liechtenstein.
#3 Italy equal national record for most consecutive wins in all competitions
The last few years have been rocky for the Italian national team. They followed their 2006 World Cup triumph with consecutive group stage eliminations in 2010 and 2014, and failed to even qualify for the 2018 edition.
That marked the first time in 60 years that the Azurri did not participate in the World Cup. In response, the Italian football federation appointed former Manchester City and Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini in Gian Piero Ventura's stead in May 2018.
The 54-year-old inherited a squad that was low on morale. With less than ideal sampling ground in a dwindling Serie A, Mancini had his work cut out.
His first eight matches in charge saw indifferent results, with two wins and four draws. But it all turned around with a 1-0 victory over USA in a friendly fixture in November 2018.
That was to be the first of nine consecutive victories, as Italy have posted a 100% record in Group J of the Euro 2020 Qualifiers. Incredibly, they have scored 25 goals and conceded just three.
The routine victory over Liechtenstein means Italy have now equaled their record for most consecutive wins, which was set between 1938 and 1939 under the management of the legendary Vittorio Pozzo.
Mancini will have the chance to make the record all of his own when his side travel to Bosna-Herzegovina on the 15th of November.
#2 Liechtenstein give a good account of themselves early on
Liechtenstein are very much one of the minnows in Europe. They are regularly walloped by the top teams, and few if any gave them a chance of getting anything from a game against the four-time world champions.
The home side have never participated in a major international competition. The difference in quality between the two sides is reinforced by the fact that Liechtenstein do not have a professional league, while Serie A is one of the strongest in the world.
A cursory look at the scoreline would suggest that Italy walked their way through the game. But nothing could be further from the truth, as Liechtenstein gave as good as they got and put the visitors on the backfoot for most of the match.
Indeed, they could have gone ahead as early as the first minute when Dennis Salanovic forced Salvatore Sirigu into a fine save. This was to be a recurring battle throughout the match.
In total Liechtenstein had eight shots, with four of those being on target, while they also had five corners despite having just 20% of the possession. They gave as good as they got against their more illustrious neighbors, until their defensive lapses in the last 20 minutes led to the whitewash.
Although they ultimately fell to a 5-0 defeat, fans of the nation can hold their heads high; their team held their own against one of the most experienced sides in the world.
#1 Roberto Mancini shows off squad depth with rotation policy
Throughout his tenure as manager of the Italian national team, Roberto Mancini has made it clear he is building a squad for the future. And his call-ups in the last one year have reflected that.
A number of youngsters including Nicolo Zaniolo, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Barella made their international bows under his watch, to complement veterans like Leonardo Bonucci and Marco Verratti.
With qualification already secured, the game against Liechtenstein offered an opportunity to rest first-team regulars and Mancini did just that. He made 10 changes from the XI that dispatched Greece last week, with PSG midfielder Verratti the only player to retain his shirt.
Despite not being his regular first-team, the lineup named for the clash with Liechtenstein still had established players like Andrea Belotti, Federico Bernardeschi and Alessio Romagnoli.
Mancini would have been very pleased with the application of the players he fielded, as most of them made the most of the opportunity afforded them. While Liechtenstein might not have been the sternest test, that took nothing away from the fact that Italy showed their depth with a good performance.
