Summary

  • Italy begin Euro 2020 with impressive win over Turkey in Rome

  • Italy's goals from Demiral (OG), Immobile & Insigne

  • First time Italy have scored three times in a Euros game

  • Mancini's side extend unbeaten run to 28 games

  • Wales and Switzerland also in Group A

  1. 'France are the overriding favourites'published at 19:10 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    Rio Ferdinand
    Former England defender on BBC One

    Everyone is excited, the morale of all the nations need lifting and hopefully we can be excited by the brand of football.

    My outsiders Italy are playing today, they have gone quiet and have had a good, long unbeaten run.

    France are the overriding favourites, their B team could win the tournament.

  2. Italy looking strongpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    Most people I know seem to be going for France to win Euro 2020, but Italy are looking a very good shout under Roberto Mancini.

    They are unbeaten in their past 27 games, have won their last eight and have kept clean sheets in each of those victories, going 785 minutes (over 13 hours) without conceding.

    Boasting a strong blend of youth and experience, they are going to be a hard nut to crack while goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is just 22 years old but now considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  3. 'Special feeling'published at 19:08 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    Cesc Fabregas
    Former Spain midfielder on BBC One

    It's a fantastic achievement to win the European Championship. Winning for your country is the most special thing you can do as a player. I believe a lot of teams this year can have a similar feeling to what we were feeling in 2008. Spain were a young team and nobody really believed in us.

  4. 'This is a tournament we all need'published at 19:07 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    Alan Shearer
    Former England striker on BBC One

    One concern after a long hard season, with no break for the players. Will we see them tired? It might affect the quality of the football.

    This is a tournament we all need after the heartache of the last 18 months, we need a lift and nothing does that more than the beautiful game.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    #bbcfootball

    My partner drew North Macedonia in the family sweepstake, then in her work sweepstake too!

    Dave

  6. The best goals from Italy's qualifying campaignpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    Watch the best goals from Italy's Euro 2020 qualifying campaign in which Roberto Mancini's men won all 10 games.

  7. Italy to make winning start?published at 19:04 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    Mark Lawrenson
    BBC football expert

    .Image source, .

    Italy are one of nine teams who will enjoy home advantage for some or all of their games in the group stage.

    It is going to make a massive difference for all of them, especially with some fans allowed back in the stadium. It is one of the reasons I think Italy will top Group A - they are the strongest team out of the four anyhow, but they also get to play three games at Stadio Olimpico.

    Italy are not the team they were in major tournaments of the past, but I think they will break down a determined Turkey defence and start with a win.

    Lawro's prediction: 0-2

    Pundits' predictions: Karen Carney 0-1, Chris Waddle 0-2, Dion Dublin 1-2, Clinton Morrison 1-2, Chris Sutton 1-1, Rob Green 0-1, Christian Fuchs 1-3, Jermaine Jenas 0-0, Emma Saunders 1-2, Steve Crossman 0-2, John Murray 1-1, Ian Dennis 0-1, Alistair Bruce-Ball 1-1, Conor McNamara 0-3, Vicki Sparks 0-2

    Check out Lawro's full predictions here.

  8. U2 rock legends to kick off Euro 2020published at 19:02 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    For those asking if there is an opening ceremony tonight, of course there is!

    Martin Garrix, Bono and The Edge will take centre stage with a virtual performance ahead of kick off, which Uefa say will use cutting-edge technology to bring fans closer to the competition’s curtain-raiser.

    They will be performing Euro 2020's official song, which you can hear below.

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  9. Watch now on BBC One and onlinepublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Media caption,

    Watch BBC Sport's brand new TV titles for Euro 2020

    We are LIVE on BBC One and online.

    Tune in!

  10. On this day at the Eurospublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Media caption,

    Bale the hero as Wales win, Henry's ridiculous pace and Euro icons go head-to-head

    There's no better way to get in the mood for an upcoming Euros than by watching some action from past tournaments, and we've handily rounded up the best archive action from 11 June in European Championship history.

    Gareth Bale stars for Wales as they mark their first game in a major tournament for 58 years with a 2-1 win over Slovakia at Euro 2016 in Bordeaux.

    Also on this day at Euro 2000, Antonio Conte scored a clever overhead kick for Italy and a young Thierry Henry showed his pace as France destroyed Denmark 3-0 in Bruges.

    While in 2012, Andriy Shevchenko and Zlatan Ibrahimovic went head-to-head in Kiev.

  11. Prep donepublished at 18:54 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

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  12. Why England, Wales & Scotland fans should be excitedpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Williams and Micah Richards assess the chances of England, Scotland and Wales ahead of Euro 2020.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    #bbcfootball

    CM: Absolutely can't wait for this tournament to kick off. But... solidarity with football fans like myself, who drew North Macedonia in the work pools. That's three quid I'll never see again.

    Paolo Pescatore: Pre match drinks #EURO2020 I’ll be unavailable for the next few hours (maybe longer depending on the result)

  14. All set in the studiopublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

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  15. Team newspublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 11 June 2021
    Breaking

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    .Image source, .

    Turkey are led by 35-year-old forward Burak Yilmaz, one of three members of Lille's title-winning side in the starting XI.

    The other two are winger Yusuf Yazici and right-back Zeki Celik.

    Leicester defender Caglar Soyuncu and West Brom midfielder Okay Yokuslu also start but Foxes midfielder Cengiz Under is on the bench along with defender Ozan Kabak, who finished 2020-21 on loan at Liverpool.

    Turkey XI: Cakir, Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Meras, Yokuslu, Karaman, Tufan, Yazici, Calhanoglu, Yilmaz.

    Substitutes: Gunok, Under, Tokoz, Bayindir, Antalyali, Kabak, Unal, Kokcu, Kahveci, Ayhan, Muldur, Dervisoglu.

    .Image source, .

    Italy name 36-year-old Giorgio Chiellini and 34-year-old defensive partner Leonardo Bonucci in their start line-up.

    Chelsea's Champions League winning midfielder Jorginho also makes the XI but Andrea Belotti, who scored four times in qualifying, has to make do with a place on the bench.

    Italy XI: Donnarumma, Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli, Berardi, Immobile, Insigne.

    Substitutes: Raspadori, Bastoni, Sirigu, Meret, Di Lorenzo, Belotti, Pessina, Emerson, Chiesa, Acerbi, Cristante, Bernardeschi.

  16. 'Mancini has changed everything for Italy'published at 18:48 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    Mina Rzouki
    European football expert on BBC Radio 5 live

    Roberto ManciniImage source, Getty Images

    Since Roberto Mancini has come along he has really put his trust into the youth of Italy and finding the next generation, giving caps to players who haven't even been securing minutes for their own team.

    There was an emphasis on making Italy a more attacking team and now we're seeing the fruits of that labour with a team that plays beautiful football with a perfect record in qualifying.

  17. Style kingspublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Italy's players, led by boss Roberto Mancini, have turned up looking like they're about to hit the catwalk.

    Smart light jackets with dark T-shirts underneath and dark trousers.

    Super stylish.

  18. The sounds of the Eurospublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    BBC Sounds

    .Image source, Getty Images

    It's Friday and a bit of music always helps to get in the mood for the weekend, so how about some tunes with an international tournament twist?

    Check out these options on BBC Sounds.

    A Dance Through The Decades: Footy Anthems: Featuring New Order, Shakira, Ant & Dec, Sergio Mendes and more – one football anthem from each of the last six decades. Listen here.

    Goal Soundz: Featuring an eclectic football flavoured selection from Bob Sinclar, The White Stripes, The Fall, Collapsed Lung and Pavorotti! Listen here.

    Club Hit Squad Euros Mix: Featuring songs by artists from the competing countries, including the likes of F1rstman, Imran Khan, Ta’Shan, JK, Ahmed Khan and more. Listen here.

  19. Pump up the volumepublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    .Image source, Reuters

    A huge roar breaks out as Turkey's players take to the pitch to have a look at their surroundings at Stadio Olimpico.

    There's a healthy contingent of Turkish fans already inside the ground.

    Capacity for the opening game of Euro 2020 has been capped at around 16,000.

    It'll sound like 60,000 when the teams walk out around 80 minutes from now.

  20. From World Cup flops into Euro 2020 contenderspublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 11 June 2021

    Turkey v Italy (20:00 BST)

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Italy go into tonight's contest in Rome on the back of a 27-game unbeaten run having completed a remarkable turnaround under former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

    Tears, international retirements, resignations and widespread condemnation accompanied their failure to reach a World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years.

    My colleague Steve Sutcliffe has examined how a nation at its lowest footballing ebb and a manager at a crossroads restored pride, forged a new identity and rediscovered a winning blend prior to their first tournament match on home soil since the 1990 World Cup.

    Read the piece here.