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Italy recorded a narrow but comfortable 1-0 win over Wales in their final UEFA Euro 2020 group stage fixture. Matteo Pessina scored from Marco Verratti's perfectly taken free-kick to give Italy the decisive lead in the 39th minute.
Wales struggled to find their rhythm against the hosts, who fielded a B-team for this fixture. Manager Roberto Mancini made eight changes from their 3-0 win over Switzerland.
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Verratti shone in his Euro debut. Watching him dictate the play was a great sight for Italy fans, who would love to see him more in the knockout stages of the competition.
Wales only had one shot on target and that too was a tame headed attempt saved easily by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Their best chance of the game came from a Daniel James corner when Chris Gunter headed the ball over the crossbar after moving away from his marker.
A red card to Ethan Ampadu delivered the final blow to the visiting side, who struggled to get the ball into Italy's half with a numerical disadvantage. Despite a loss here, they managed to qualify for the next round.
As Italy continue to turn heads with their impressive performances at Euro 2020, here we take a look at the five talking points from the game.
#5 Italy's B-Team gets the job done
Roberto Mancini made as many as eight changes to the squad that recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Switzerland. He chose to rest key players, including the entire front three, but the Azzurri managed to get the job done.
Marco Verratti made his first appearance after an injury spell and was dynamic in the middle of the park. Andrea Belotti and Federico Chiesa also impressed with their energies in the final third while Atalanta's Pessina scored in his first start in the competition.
This goes to show that Italy are one of the top contenders for European glory and have enough quality on the bench to get the job done even if the A-team fails.
#4 Marco Verrati runs the show in his first game in over a month
The Italian team might have looked unfamiliar on the field, but one of the new faces was key to their win over Wales. Paris Saint-Germain's Marco Verratti was the man in control of the proceedings in tonight's game.
Watching him play, it was difficult to process the fact that he had not played a single minute of football on account of a knee injury since May. He was very comfortable on the ball and had a great understanding with almost every one of his teammates.
He marked his return to the pitch with a smart assist from a free-kick. Verratti was also very effective from open play, creating four key passes and completing 93% of his passes.
Also See: The 10 highest-paid goalkeepers in the world
#3 Ethan Ampadu's red card proves to be the final nail in the coffin for Wales
Wales struggled to contain a creative Italy side and most of their chances came from corners and free-kicks. It was clear that Rob Page's men needed to do something to get a grip on the game. But they were on the receiving end of some harsh decision making by the match officials. Defender Ethan Ampadu was red-carded in the 55th minute for a foul on Juventus' Federico Bernardeschi.
The Chelsea defender had put in a late challenge and caught Bernardeschi slightly higher and stepped over his ankle in the follow-through. Ovidiu Hațegan did not hesitate in showing the 20-year-old marching orders. A VAR check followed, which ruled in favor of the original decision. Ampadu had to be consoled by Gareth Bale as he left the pitch in tears.
With their numerical disadvantage, securing a point from an already difficult game became more tedious for the visiting side. With Ampadu's dismissal, hopes of a comeback also faded away.
#2 Italy match their longest unbeaten run in history with a comfortable win in front of the home fans
Italy were already guaranteed a spot in round 16 but ensured they topped the group with a comfortable win over Wales. This win also holds special significance for the hosts. The Azzurri were able to match their longest unbeaten run of 30 games with this result.
The Italians were very dominant in the group stage fixtures and scored seven goals without a reply against the likes of Turkey, Switzerland and Wales. The record of 30 games without a defeat was set all the way back between November 1935 and July 1939. Roberto Mancini achieved the same results in three years.
Given their incredible form, they look on track to create history in round 16 of the fixture.
#1 With a flawless performance in the group stage Italy make a statement
Italy had a great run in the group stage fixtures and won all three of them with ease. They recorded a 3-0 win in the first two games with their strongest XI and even with a team of second-choice players, they eked out a 1-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico.
The hosts did not concede a single goal in the group stage and that stretched their run to 11 games with a clean sheet and a win. Mancini has worked wonders with the team and after the humiliation of not having qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the team has been a force to be reckoned with.
Many did not consider Italy to be serious contenders for the title but as things stand they have been the best side in the competition so far. They have been excellent at the back, great in midfield and superb in the final third, so all teams will be praying to avoid a matchup with them in the knockout stages.
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