Italy beats Belgium 2-0 in EURO 2016 Group E

Italy beat world No. 2 Belgium 2-0 in its first match of the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E here on Monday.

Bologona midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, 31, lifted Italy to 1-0 lead with a clinical finish in the 32nd minute when Leonardo Bonucci curled a brilliant long pass over the Belgium defense. Giaccherini took a touch with his left foot and curled past Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois.

It was Giaccherini's first goal for Italy since 2013, and he was picked as the Man of the Match.

Southampton forward Graziano Pelle, 30, sealed the win for Italy with a bullet volley in the box in the 93rd minute when Belgians were throwing everything at pulling level, allowing Italian substitute Ciro Immobile to drive off the left flank and found Lazio midfielder Antonio Candreva on the right. Candreva lifted a brilliant ball to the back post for Pelle to volley in.

Belgium, standing second in the latest FIFA rankings in June, had beaten Italy 3-1 last November in a friendly and had kept unbeaten in 24 of their last 27 international matches.

Belgium's Everton forward Romelu Lukaku, 23, who had scored in each of his last four international matches, squandered the best chance to equal the score.

In the 53rd minute, a pinpoint pass from Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne was just through to Lukaku. But the star striker was in space running to the right of goal and his shot lacked conviction and curled just wide.

The tit-for-tat game was quite opening up as both sides focused on attacks and counter-attacks instead of pure defense. As Italy led 1-0 in the first half, Belgium had to push for an equaliser, which allowed Italy to find more gaps on the counterattacks. Endit