Italy beat 1-men Wales 1 – 0. Their automatic qualification was under threat with Switzerland beating Turkey 3-1 in Group A’s other fixture, but Wales withstood relentless Italian pressure to scrape through in second place on goal difference.
Wales demonstrated great resolve in defeat against Italy as they clung on with 10 men for a result which was enough to secure their place in the second round of Euro 2020.
Italy had already qualified for the last 16 and, despite making eight changes to their team, they were still utterly dominant, Matteo Pessina’s goal giving them a 1-0 half-time lead which scarcely reflected their superiority.
Wales were forced to play the final half an hour a man down after was sent off for a lunge on Federico Bernardeschi, intensifying the Italian onslaught.
And although Italy’s win was never in doubt – this was their 30th consecutive match without defeat, equalling their national record – Wales dug deep to ensure the margin of victory was not too damaging.
Finishing third may well have been enough for Wales to progress as one of the tournament’s four best third-placed teams, but this result ensured they kept their destiny in their own hands.
Robert Page and his players can now look forward to a second-round match against Group B’s runners-up in Amsterdam next Saturday.
As for Italy, an 11th consecutive win will see them face Group C’s second-placed team at Wembley on the same day. This turned into a far more anxious afternoon than Wales had envisaged in Rome.
Their victory over Turkey last Wednesday had put them within touching distance of the knockout stages, knowing even a defeat was unlikely to halt their progress – but needing a draw to be sure of it.
With their probable last-16 tie in mind, Page benched the three players, Kieffer Moore, Ben Davies and Chris Mepham, who were one yellow card away from suspension.
There was also a change of formation as Wales switched to a 3-4-3 where a back three became very much a back five during their long spells without possession against an impressive Italy side.
The Azzurri dominated from kick-off, controlling the ball and hemming Wales into their own half for what felt like the entire duration of the match.
Page’s side were living dangerously, with Italian shots deflecting wide or into the hands of Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward, before their luck finally ran out when Pessina flicked in from Marco Verratti’s free-kick.
There were myriad other chances but, like a battered boxer threatening to land one decisive blow, Wales had opportunities of their own with Chris Gunter heading over and Gareth Bale wastefully clearing the bar with a left-footed volley.
Snatching a draw at the Stadio Olimpico would have been a heist of the highest order, but those misses proved academic, thanks to the goalkeeping of Ward and the bloody-minded defending of those in front of him.
Source – BBC News
