Buongiorno, noswaith dda. Welcome to live coverage of Italy versus Wales in the final round of matches of Group A in Euro 2020. It’s first versus second in the group; Italy’s six plays Wales’ four, and the group winner will be sorted out in Rome tonight. While this is going on, Switzerland face Turkey in Baku. Turkey’s goal difference means they’re practically out of it, while it’s a must win for Switzerland. We’ll keep tabs on all of it for you, as Group A concludes and the first places in the knockout rounds are inked in for real. Teams to follow from Rome shortly.
Euro 2024 / Group Stage
Stadio Olimpico / 20.06.2021
- M. Pessina(39')
Live
Live Updates
Updated 20/06/2021 at 17:52 GMT
29'
CHANCE! Bastoni crosses from the left for Italy. Williams misses it completely, and it lands in the lap of Chiesa at the back post. From a wide angle he smashes his shot back across goal, where it clips Ampadu and flies out for a corner.
27'
CHANCE! Wales win their first corner of the match. James whips it swiftly in to the front post, where Gunter arrives unmarked and heads just over from six yards out. What an opportunity; Wales should be ahead.
In Baku, Switzerland have doubled their lead over Turkey courtesy of Shaqiri.
25'
A long ball down the left finds James, who bullets a cross into the area to Ramsey. It's a chance if he can get it under control, but he uses a hand to do so and it's a free kick to Italy.
24'
Wales give the ball away close to their own goal. The Italians work it to Belotti, with a shooting chance from wide on the right, but he drags it yards wide of the far post.
23'
Wales get their first sustained period of play in the Italian half. It's good, snappy passing, maybe 30 or so, but it's all across the face of the Italian area and Allen eventually gives away the ball and then a free kick.
19'
The ball goes out for a throw-in near Mancini, who deftly controls the ball with his heel as it drops behind him. Classy.
17'
Wales are under pressure here. They clear one ball into their box, from where a volley by Toloi on the edge hits Pessina and trickles into the hands of Ward.
15'
Wales are standing off Italy until they get within 30 yards of goal. Emerson comes forward again, but can only send a bouncing shot straight into the hands of Ward.
13'
Chiesa suddenly speeds the game up down the right for Italy. He flashes a vicious cross into the six yard box, where Rodon gets across Belotti to head clear.
12'
A half chance for Italy here. Emerson piles forwards, unchallenged, and whips a cross to the back post. Belotti sneaks in behind Gunter, but can't connect with his volley properly on the stretch, and the ball trickles behind for a goal kick.
10'
With James and Bale in wider attacking positions and Ramsey withdrawn, there's no pressure on Bonucci as he tries but fails to pick out Emerson over the top and down the left. That ball's been on a few times so far.
7'
Toloi launches a long ball into the area, looking for Belotti, but Ward is out to gather.
Over in Baku, Switzerland have taken the lead against Turkey through Seferovic. As things stand Italy top the group, Wales are second, Switzerland third and Turkey fourth.
4'
Bales fires a long, diagonal ball into the penalty area. It clears Allen, and Williams gets around the back but can only hook the ball into the hands of Donnarumma.
3'
James takes a lump off Verratti in midfield, just as it looks like Wales threatened to break; free kick.
1'
Peep! We're underway in Rome.
16:55
Here come the teams! Your referee today is Ovidiu Hategan. After two of the best national anthems out there, we'll have all the action for you.
16:50
They just don't want to go to work. Apparently there are 400 Welsh fans in Stadio Olimpico tonight; if they can upset Italy and win here, it's Wembley on Saturday.
16:45
How about this for a run from the Italians: in their last ten matches they've won the lot, scoring 31 and conceding a big fat zero. It goes deeper too; if they avoid defeat tonight, they'll equal their all-time record of thirty matches unbeaten on the spin. That's how you recover from not qualifying for the World Cup.
16:40
ITV are showing a clip of Bale's post-match pep talk to the Welsh squad on the pitch in Baku on Wednesday. What an inspiration he was that night; after a quiet opening match against Switzerland, he was superb against the Turks bar that Waddled penalty.
16:35
Wales have only beaten Italy twice in their history. The first time was in a friendly in 1988 when Ian Rush scored the solitary goal in Brescia; the second was a legendary victory in a Euro 2004 qualifier in Cardiff, when Craig Bellamy rounded Gianluigi Buffon to tap in for a stunning 2-1 victory. If they win tonight they'll win the group, a result that you'd imagine might become the most famous of the three.
16:30
Broadly speaking, tonight is a free hit for Wales. With four points in the bank already they look almost sure to progress to the knockout stages, providing that they aren’t humbled by a big score this evening. Their caretaker manager Page deserves immense credit for their performances so far, having taken full control of the team for this tournament at short notice and tasked with following that sensational run by Wales in France five years ago.