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Writer's pictureThe Season Ticket

Euro 2020 | Locatelli scores twice in 3-0 win for Italy against Switzerland

Manuel Locatelli scored twice as Italy defeated Switzerland 3-0 in Euro 2020's Group A clash at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ciro Immobile added a third for Roberto Mancini's side as the Azzurri became the first nation to book their place in the knockout stages.

Italy scored three goals for the second game running and have now kept 10 clean sheets in a row.

The home side were dominant throughout, and thought they'd taken a 19th-minute lead when captain Giorgio Chiellini smashed home a loose ball in the box from a Lorenzo Insigne corner.

However, VAR eventually ruled the veteran defender's goal out after deciding that Chiellini had handled the ball while competing with Swiss defender Manuel Akanji. Chiellini then had to be substituted after picking up an injury soon afterwards, with Francesco Acerbi replacing the Juventus centre half.

Italy took the lead in the 26th minute, with Locatelli arriving in the box to sweep home from eight yards after a brilliant run and cut back by Dominico Berardi.

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Leonardo Spinazzola had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 37th minute as Italy launched a rapid counter after a poor Granit Xhaka pass, but the Italian's toe-poked effort drifted wide of the far post.

Italy led 1-0 at half time, with Vladimir Petkovic's Switzerland struggling to create any noteworthy chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Locatelli scored his second with a brilliant low strike from 20 yards after being teed up by Nicolo Barella.

The Sassuolo midfielder took one touch before rifling a left-footed drive into the bottom corner past a static Yann Sommer.

Xherdan Shaqiri drove forward and smashed a shot well over the crossbar on the hour mark as Switzerland tried in vain to unlock a well-drilled Italian defence in Rome.

Switzerland did go close in the 64th minute, but Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnaruma made a smart save with his feet to deny Steven Zuber from an acute angle.

Berardi's rasping drive flew narrowly over, before Immobile dragged a shot wide as Italy hunted a third goal on home soil.

Lazio striker Immobile put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute with a dipping strike from 25 yards, which Sommer was unable to keep out of the bottom corner despite getting both hands to it.

Two wins from two for Italy, who look like they are capable of mounting a serious challenge for this year's European Championship.

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