Manuel Locatelli scored twice as Italy booked their spot in the Euro 2020 knockout stage with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Switzerland in Rome on Wednesday.
Sassuolo midfielder Locatelli opened the scoring in the 26th minute from Domenico Berardi’s cutback, after veteran defender Georgio Chiellini had a goal disallowed.
Locatelli added the second shortly after the break, with Lazio frontman Ciro Immobile netting his second goal of the tournament in the 89th minute to seal the emphatic win.
“Switzerland are a strong side, we knew it would be a tough game and it was,” Italy boss Roberto Mancini told RAI Sport. “We had chances, could’ve scored earlier and suffered where we had to, but deserved it at the end.
“We were struggling in the opening minutes, but then we pressed them high and forced them to make mistakes. The lads did really well, it wasn’t easy, their second game in five days and it’s so hot.”
The Azzurri are assured of a last 16 spot having won their opening two games with 3-0 margins, although Wales remain in contention for top spot in Group A ahead of their meeting with Italy in the final pool match in Rome.
Wales won 2-0 over Turkey, with Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts scoring the goals after Gareth Bale missed a spotkick in Baku.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Russia claimed a much-needed and hard-fought 1-0 victory over Finland in St Petersburg to stay in contention.
Russia, who lost 3-0 to Belgium first up, got the winner on half-time from Aleksei Miranchuk.
