itsbeautifuloutside

IBO Reporter : jickster

|A fairly open group, with a traditional powerhouse in Italy who perhaps don't have the fear factor of old, then 3 other teams in Switzerland, Turkey and my adopted home of Wales who will all fancy their chances of taking points off each other and qualifying from the group, although anything beyond that would be a bonus probably.

I didn't get to watch the opening ceremony in Rome ahead of Italy v Turkey, although I later saw some pictures of a holographic Bono in the stadium which would have put me off for the rest of the night so probably a good job. I turned on in time to see a little remote control car deliver the ball to the ref in the centre circle, a gloriously pointless gimmick but one that I am all in favour of.

I'd read that Turkey think they have their strongest team since reaching the semi finals of the 2002 World Cup, but once the game kicks off there's little sign of that as they get strangled as soon as the try to leave their own half, with unsuccessful hopeful passes out. Italy meanwhile are very lively and make a lot of half chances althoug the shooting is often poor, off target or scuffed, or sometimes blasted at opponents followed by appeals for handball that are never awarded- they need 'smaller balls' according to Jermaine Jenas.

In the second half Italy finally get a bit of luck with an own goal that gives them confidence and they continue to pin Turkey back, the pressure tells with a second goal through Immobile and they keep their boot on Turkey's throat to get a deserved third from Insigne. A TV caption says Italy lead 24-1 on goal attempts and the camera finds even the normally humble Gianluca Vialli smirking in the crowd. An ideal start for them.

The next day the streets of Cardiff are dotted with red shirts in the morning, the fans generally know that the fairytale in 2016 won't be repeated so in many ways the pressure is off and everyone seems just determined to enjoy the event. Wales and Switzerland players find themselves out in Azerbaijan, with a sparse crowd a long way from the pitch it's a bizarre setting for the game and the 500 Welsh fans who made the trip. Wales start at a high tempo that they can't sustain as Switzerland take control, the commentators note how many set pieces Wales are conceding and at the start of the second half it costs them with Embolo heading in from a corner. Just as Wales look to have run out of ideas they work it well to put in an angled cross which Kieffer Moore glances in to get a vital equaliser. It gives Wales an energy boost as the look to win it, but actually the Swiss nearly win it themselves only for VAR to disallow a potential late winner for offside. Wales probably just about did enough for a draw although the Swiss will be disappointed they couldn't close the game out.

So overall we're kind of where we started. Italy look good on the ball and will clearly breeze through the group. Beforehand I thought that the lack of star quality compared to a team like France or Portugal would mean that they would not be genuine contenders to win it. But Rio Ferdinand made a good point that without a Totti, Baggio or Del Piero they actually look like a better team unit and Mancini has certainly got a plan so who knows? I certainly fancy them more than I did.

Turkey were very limited, they look a second tier side. Wales can fancy taking them on in the second match where both sides will probably need a win to get out of the group, that will be a good game. Switzerland probably the second best team in the group, but the result against Wales wasn't what they needed and there is still work for them to do, they will hope to take a point against Italy although that will be difficult.

An interesting pair of opening games then! I enjoyed watching both matches, let's hope for more.

IBO Reporter : jickster

There's some anxiety in Wales ahead of the match against Turkey, although it isn't really a knockout game it kind of feels like one as anything less than a win will make it hard to get to the next round. The local feeling is that the fans are grateful to have a point on the board but need to raise their game from now on. Likewise Turkey will probably feel that a win here is needed, certainly a better performance than they showed against Italy. They massively outnumber Welsh fans in the Baku stadium and this context means that we end up with a low-key classic game, maybe not the highest standard but both teams show plenty of attacking intent and the defenders are all willing to put their bodies on the line to keep their opponents out.

Both sides have a few attempts on goal early on, Wales probably having the best chances with Ramsey in particular going close, before the best bit of skill of the match inevitably starts with Bale who flights a lovely through ball for Ramsey to beat the offside trap, take a touch and slip it past the keeper. From my living room you can hear the cheers from the pub down the road for the vital goal that puts Wales in front at half time. Into the second half and again Bale instigates things, he's tripped right on the edge of the box and a VAR check confirm it was on the line. But his penalty goes high over the bar and Wales need to dig in as Turkey sense they are still in the game.

Turkey press for the equaliser and things turn a bit bad-tempered as a nothing incident with Burak and Ben Davies ends up in a load of pushing and shoving and 2 yellow cards for each side as the clock goes past 90 minutes. Robbie Savage gets angry at Wales for not keeping the ball in the corner, but Bale ignores him and sets up Connor Roberts for a second goal that seals the win and brings an even louder cheer in my neighbourhood (including from me) that combines joy and relief after a high stakes and nervy game.

Later Italy face Switzerland and carry on where they left off in their win against Turkey. They dominate the game from the start and have a goal from Chiellini ruled out before he goes off injured, but it only delays the inevitable, a nice move and finish from Locatelli gives them the lead at half time. No sitting on a 1-0 for this Italian side though, they push forward and get further deserved goals. Another from Locatelli from outside the box 'will be remembered forever in the Eternal City' according to Sam Matterface- the second goal in a group game where you are cruising through doesn't normally get that kind of legacy, but whatever. Insigne gets the third late on after missing some earlier chances, by then the Swiss are finished and get a right hammering from Keane, Vieira and Neville on ITV. Those 3 also have legitimate points about not getting carried away with Italy who look good but haven't played anyone decent yet, but they couldn't have done much more in their opening two games.

Italy might relax in the last game, but should really try to keep the momentum going. Wales not mathematically through, but realistically they should take second place in the group now and a kind draw means they actually have an excellent chance of reaching the quarter finals.

Switzerland and Turkey will both need to win the last game where they face each other. The Swiss have 1 point already and ending on 4 should see them through even if they end up 3rd. Turkey will be a bit more twitchy as a poor goal difference might end up costing them even if they end up with 3 points. But any of their potential opponents will fancy taking on these sides should they get through.

IBO Reporter : jickster

|After the thrills and spills of the first pairs of games, things are a bit more sedate in the final set, Wales have already done the important part and although a win would see them top the group, there is little chance of that happening in Rome. Italy want to make it 3 wins out of 3 and they again look a class above their opponents here, without putting on a show as they had done previously. A cleverly taken low-flighted free kick is swept in by Pessina just before half time and that's enough to win the game. Ampadu's red card at the start of the second half is a bit controversial although won't get overturned, and it basically ends the contest. Wales' only concern at that point is not to start shipping goals which could see Switzerland overtake them on goal difference, but Italy don't take the chances they do make and are happy to conserve energy for the most part. The last 20 minutes are pretty tedious to be honest.

Meanwhile in Baku both Switzerland and Turkey know that 3 points are essential if they are to reach the last 16, I didn't watch this game obviously, but the highlights show some excellent goals in the 3-1 win for the Swiss, particularly Shaqiri's first. But there's too much for Switzerland to do to overcome that goal difference swing to take second place and they have to settle for 3rd in the group with 4 points and -1 GD. That might well be enough to be among the 4 best 3rd placed teams, but they will face an anxious wait now.

So to summarise

Italy look really good and qualify in style. They haven't really been tested yet though, it will be interesting to see how far they go although they will be hot favourites against Ukraine or Austria in the next round.

Wales are delighted to make the next round and expectations are on the rise again- the draw has been VERY kind to them and they'll have a great chance against whoever finishes second in Group B.

Switzerland will regret not finishing off Wales in that opening match, a fag packet calculation from me suggests it'll be close for them to qualify- if Ukraine and Austria shake hands on a draw then it might see the Swiss go out. Either way I can't see them making the last 8 whoever they face.

Turkey have been a big let down. They had high hopes beforehand but were lucky to only lose by 3-0 against Italy, Wales deservedly beat them and although I didn't see it, it sounds like a similar story against Switzerland.

Cheerio.