Euro 2020: Italy Thrash Switzerland To Reach Round Of 16

Italy became the first team to reach the round of 16 of Euro 2020 after a convincing 3-0 win over Switzerland in Rome on Wednesday.

A brace from Manuel Locatelli and Ciro Immobile confirmed Italy‘s place in the first knockout stage.

The Azzurri, now unbeaten in 29 matches and having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, sit top in Group A and are guaranteed a top-two finish and last-16 berth.

Captain Giorgio Chiellini had an early effort ruled out by VAR for handball, before the 36-year-old defender was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh injury.

But the hosts always looked the more dangerous side and took the lead in the 26th minute.

Locatelli played a wonderful volleyed pass to his Sassuolo teammate Domenico Berardi on the wing, who powered to the byline and picked out Locatelli for a simple tap-in.

The three points and a place in the knockout phase for the fourth straight European Championship were all but secured less than seven minutes after the interval, when a flowing move ended with Locatelli driving a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

And in the 89th minute Immobile bagged his second goal of the tournament with a beautiful cutler.