Italy has secured a group win in Group A on Sunday evening. In Rome, the team of national coach Roberto Mancini was 1-0 too strong for Wales. The Italians appeared with a glorified B-team, as Mancini changed the line-up in no less than eight places compared to the won duel with Switzerland (3-0). In the eighth final, Italy will meet the number two from the group of the Dutch at Wembley on Saturday at 9 PM. Wales finish in second place and will play against the number two from Group B (Belgium, Russia, Finland or Denmark) at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
The good news for the Italians was the return of Marco Verratti, who was not yet fit enough to play the first games after his thigh injury. Of the eleven names that were in the starting lineup against Switzerland, only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Leonardo Bonucci and Jorginho appeared at the kick-off against Wales. National coach Robert Page changed his starting eleven in three places compared to the won game with Turkey (0-2).
It was the Italians who sought the attack from the first whistle, but Wales were well organized in the back. In the 25th minute, Alessandro Bastoni found a gap in the Welsh defense and served Federico Chiesa. The Juventus attacker completed the edge of the five-meter area towards the far corner, but he shot just wide. On the other side, Aaron Ramsey made a contribution, though he didn’t have the fortune on his side either.
The game was broken up in the 39th minute. On the right side of the field, Joe Allen fouled Verratti, who was awarded a free kick and went behind the ball himself. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder had a hard and low ball in the house on Matteo Pessina, who extended the leather with a cunning foot movement and scored in the far corner: 1-0. Seven minutes after the break Federico Bernardeschi came close to scoring. The left winger on duty was allowed to land for a free kick from the edge of the box, but his effort bounced off the outside of the post.
The offense for which Ethan Ampadu was shown the red card.
Wales’ hopes of group victory disappeared like snow in the sun when the country came down with ten men in the 55th minute. Around the center circle, Ethan Ampadu pushed too hard on Bernardeschi’s ankle in an attempt to capture the ball, after which arbiter Ovidiu Hategan sent Ampadu off the field with an immediate red card. Nevertheless, the pace of the match dropped and it appeared that both Italy and the Welshmen were looking to save their strength for the round of 16. Fifteen minutes before the end, Gareth Bale tried his luck with a volley, but his effort went over the bar.
Furthermore, after 89 minutes of play, another striking substitution took place. Mancini called Donnarumma to the side and brought in Salvatore Sirigu.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 | Wales | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 | Turkey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -7 | 0 |
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