UEFA Euro 2020: Matchday 10
Matchday 10 at UEFA Euro 2020 featured the final games to be played in Group A.
Thanks to this tournament’s format, one team will have an extended wait to find out if they will be advancing to the next round. Two teams from this group already have that assurance while the remaining team knows that their campaign is finished.
For those of you who took time away from soccer to celebrate Father’s Day, or for various other reasons, here’s how Group A wrapped up:
Italy 1, Wales 0
Needing only a draw to top the group, Italian manager Roberto Mancini heavily rotated his squad, which included the return of Marco Verratti from injury. Both sides traded chances for most of the first half, with Wales’ Chris Gunter’s header from a corner hitting the roof of the net and Italy’s Federico Chiesa dragging his shot left from the right side of the six-yard box. The Italians broke through in the 39th minute when Verratti whipped a free kick into the box and Matteo Pessina got enough of a touch on it to redirect it into the far-left corner.
Italy almost made it two early in the second half when Federico Bernardeschi’s free kick from outside the box struck the outside of the left post. Wales’ attempt to get back into the match got harder in the 55th minute when center-back Ethan Ampadu was shown a straight red card for a mistimed stomp on Bernardeschi. Italy’s Andrea Belotti went close in the 65th minute with a quick attempt in the six-yard box that Danny Ward stopped with a reaction save. Welsh captain Gareth Bale had their best chance in the 75th minute when he had space on the right side of the box to volley a headed pass, but he was unable to keep his effort on target.
Italy were able to see out the conclusion of the match, topping Group A with three shutout victories. Despite the loss, Wales did qualify for the knockout stage as the second-place team in the group.
Switzerland 3, Turkey 1
Both teams needed a victory in order to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive, but it was Turkey who started out of the gates fast when Kaan Ayhan forced Swiss goalkeeper Yans Sommer to make a diving stop to his right on an effort from outside of the box. However, Switzerland were able to convert their first attempt on net when striker Haris Seferovic was allowed to turn onto his left foot and fire a shot low and hard into the bottom right corner in the 6th minute.
Turkey would gear up again over the next interval in search of an equalizer, with left-back Mert Müldür coming closest in the 16th minute with a swerving shot that forced another diving save from Sommer. Despite their opponent’s aggressiveness, Switzerland came up with the next goal in the 26th minute when Xherdan Shaqiri had space at the top of the box to let loose a powerful, curling effort that found the top right corner. Müldür had two more quality strikes before the half ended, but Sommer was able to get a palm to both attempts.
Switzerland started stronger in the second half with striker Breel Embolo and Seferovic each forcing goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir to make spectacular one-handed saves. However, it was Turkey’s turn to score a breathtaking goal, which was supplied by Irfan Can Kahveci, who’s effort dipped and curled into the left side of the net. The euphoria was short lived unfortunately as the Swiss would restore their two goal lead minutes later when Shaqiri would meet a beautiful through ball in the box from Steven Zuber on the left flank and the midfielder blasted home his shot for his second goal of the match.
Granit Xhaka would hit the post with his free kick attempt in the 77th minute while Turkey were unable to come up with any meaningful chances in the match’s closing stages. Switzerland will have to wait and see how other teams fare in their groups while Turkey leave Euro 2020 with zero wins and a minus seven goal differential after having been a popular dark horse candidate.
For more of my soccer coverage, check out “Atletico TV” on Facebook and the “Gateway to Soccer Show” on YouTube, as well my previous recaps here.
