Impressive Italy leave Belgium floored in EURO 2016 Group E

• Emanuele Giaccherini opens scoring with first Italy goal since 2013
• Graziano Pellè volleys in second in added time
• Belgium, despite attacking endeavour, struggle to live up to their billing
• Next Group E fixtures, 17 June: Italy v Sweden, Belgium v Republic of Ireland

Italy showed they remain a force to be reckoned with after starting their UEFA EURO 2016 Group E bid with an impressive 2-0 victory against highly rated Belgium.

For all their gifted individuals, the Red Devils looked a disjointed force in the opening half as both Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne ran into white shirts whenever they took possession. Radja Nainggolan had the first glimpse at goal, elicting a save from Gianluigi Buffon, but the 18,000 or so Belgian fans in attendance were in for a shock on 32 minutes when the Azzurri went ahead via a moment of excellence.

Leonardo Bonucci started it, picking out Emanuele Giaccherini with a wonderful lofted pass over Toby Alderweireld, and the Bologna midfielder controlled well before slotting past Thibaut Courtois for his first international goal since 2013. Belgium were rattled, and both Antonio Candreva and Graziano Pellè could have stung them with a second shortly after.

• Hazard on Buffon, Buffon on Hazard

Pellè then forced Courtois into a one-handed save from a header as the second period began at a livelier pace, and Romelu Lukaku nearly levelled when he flashed wide on the counter. Suddenly there was a little more intensity about Marc Wilmots's men, substitute Divock Origi wasteful with a header, but the Italian resistance held firm – and they had the final say when Pellè volleyed in emphatically in added time.

Man of the match: Emanuele Giaccherini
Italy's opener owed so much to Bonucci's sublime ball, but Giaccherini took it so well, controlling with apparent ease and showing great composure to beat Courtois. The No23 was a vital cog in Conte's well-oiled midfield, also catching the eye by blocking a first-half De Bruyne shot.

Conte shows his calibre
Billed by many as the weakest Italy team in decades, the Azzurri got going with expectations low, particularly as front pair Éder and Pellè had just seven national-team goals between them. That appears to have been grossly unfair, with Antonio Conte masterminding a win that will have alerted the rest of the competition to their menace. Italy's midfield quintet smothered Belgium's supply lines while also offering attacking options – as Giaccherini proved.

Conte's line-up is built on the solid foundations of a trio of experienced Juventus defenders, and the coach will want to squeeze every drop out of this side's potential before he takes the Chelsea reins next season.

Problems persist for Belgium
The highest-ranked team in Europe they may be, but Belgium came into this tournament with no clean sheets in their last seven and here Wilmots's charges conceded for the eighth consecutive match. In mitigation, most sides would suffer without injured duo Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Lombaerts.

Benjamin Gladwell, Italy team reporter (UEFAcomBenG)
Italy came into this game regarded as outsiders, keeping a low profile. They emerge with a result which is bound to have their rivals taking note. They displayed all of their famed defensive resilience and combined that with a clinical edge to strike when it counted. A tactical masterclass from Conte, although he will still have seen a few aspects to work on, being the perfectionist he is.

Berend Scholten, Belgium team reporter (UEFAcomBerendS)
So Belgium lose the opening fixture at their first EURO in 16 years, but they had their chances. Starting with Marouane Fellaini instead of Dries Mertens, the Belgians dominated until a goal that proves their defensive line is still vulnerable, especially through the middle. If the forwards had been sharper, they would have made up for that. However, everyone knew this curtain-raiser was going to be tough so all is not lost.

Belgium line up in LyonGetty Images

Lineups

Belgium: Courtois; Ciman (Carrasco 76), Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Nainggolan (Mertens 62), Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Hazard (c); R. Lukaku (Origi 73)
Substitutes: Mignolet, Gillet, Denayer, Meunier, Kabasele, Benteke, J. Lukaku, Batshuayi
Coach: Marc Wilmots

Italy: Buffon (c); Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; De Rossi (Thiago Motta 78), Candreva, Parolo, Giaccherini, Darmian (De Sciglio 58); Pellè, Éder (Immobile 75)
Substitutes: Sirigu, Marchetti, Ogbonna, Zaza, Florenzi, Sturaro, Bernardeschi, El Shaarawy
Coach: Antonio Conte

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England)