ROME -- Two goals against Belgium in their first match of the European championships 2016 scored by Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pellè have left the Italian team, and the rest of the country along with them, celebrating hard.  The match, which took place on Monday evening and for which excitement across the country was palpable, was expected to be tough for the Italian team as the Belgians are second in the FIFA rankings.

 The Italians, who are soon to lose their manager Antonio Conte to Chelsea, have proved their worth on this international stage, with their qualification for the knockout stage all but guaranteed.  If the Azzurri continue to play as on Monday evening, they stand a chance.

 Speculators have pointed out, however, their obvious technical limitations, on which they will have to improve if they want to beat the current world champions, Germany.  Yet their character and personality could draw them forward, and as Conte knows, certain alchemy, along with his tactics, is enough to go a long way.

 Speaking to Raisport after the match, Gigi Buffon, the goalkeeper for the Italian side noted, “Belgium is a strong, talented team.  In some moments we were lucky, sure, but I believe that such a united and cohesive team has never been seen.  In future we need to always give our maximum, just like this evening, otherwise our victory against Belgium will be useless.  But I’m convinced that people in the stadium, or at home, on TV, were also proud of such a team.”

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