We are through! After a highly convincing win in the opener against Turkey, Italy are now through regardless of results on the final matchday. The Azzurri only need a draw against Wales to top the group. The road is still long but the Azzurri have made great strides thus far; this was, in fact, their tenth consecutive win without conceding and Italy also stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 29 matches (24 wins, five draws) - just one away from the record set by Vittorio Pozzo’s side in the ‘30s.

A rampant Italy carved their way through Switzerland on the night and were not perturbed when things didn’t go their way - the disallowed goal and the injury to Chiellini. The Azzurri overcame these trials and showed that there are plenty of arrows in the Italian quiver. This team is in great shape, both mentally and physically, and is a constant threat through an ability to up the tempo in an instant with the electric pace of Berardi and Spinazzola. Locatelli’s exponential growth - the Sassuolo man bagged a brace before Immobile rounded off the win - is a real sign that this team is becoming increasingly aware of its own ability. They will want to finish top of the group for a round of 16 clash at Wembley, where they hope to return in July with the Final Four in London.

THE GAME. Never change a winning team; there will be time later for rotation. Roberto Mancini made just one change to the side that beat Turkey: Di Lorenzo replaced Florenzi. As we await Verratti’s full recovery, Jorginho and Locatelli played together in the heart of midfield, while Immobile was flanked by Insigne and Berardi, who were tasked with creating an attacking overload and providing the Lazio striker with ample opportunity to add to his goal tally. After their draw with Wales, Switzerland were on the hunt for three vital points as they looked to keep their European dream alive. The Swiss, who made it past the group stages at World Cups in 2014 and 2018 and at EURO 2016, are the side that the Azzurri have faced the most in their history (58 matches) and Italy hadn’t beaten the Swiss in their three previous attempts. Vladimir Petkovic went with the same system, a 3-4-1-2, with Shaqiri in the number 10 role behind Embolo and Seferovic. Freuler was deployed in midfield to provide the same stability as against Wales, along with Xhaka, who would have wanted a good performance in his reported new ground (rumours abound that he is on the verge of joining Roma).

As was the case against Turkey, the Azzurri wanted to immediately get on the ball and control proceedings, and they looked dangerous down the left – an area of the pitch being occupied by Insigne and Spinazzola – in particular early on. In the tenth minute, Spinazzola raced down the flank and whipped in a ball for Immobile, who was unable to hit the target with his head. Eight minutes later, Italy thought they’d taken the lead: Insigne played in a corner and Chiellini fought off the attentions of Xhaka and Akanji to put the ball in the net. However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for handball. Chiellini’s luck didn’t get much better, with the Juventus man being forced to leave the pitch a few minutes later due to injury. He was replaced by Acerbi. It was a blow, but the Azzurri didn’t let it affect them. Quite the contrary, in fact. Indeed, Mancini’s men took the lead in the 24th minute, when Berardi got the better of Rodriguez and rolled the ball across to his Sassuolo teammate Locatelli, who was left with the easy task of tapping the ball home for his second National Team goal. It was an important one, too: Switzerland were now in a position where they had to score, meaning they would had to do more as an attacking force. Nevertheless, the Azzurri were the ones creating the chances, with Insigne being denied by a clearance from Akanji after Sommer had rushed out to thwart Immobile. Then, Berardi failed to take advantage of a promising counter where Italy had men over, while Spinazzola shot wide from close range. The Azzurri headed into the break ahead, but they were perhaps frustrated at not having scored more.

In football, matches need to be killed off. And in this case, the man who opened the scoring was the one who all but put the game to bed. Indeed, Manuel Locatelli stepped up once again, this time in the 52nd minute. After receiving the ball on the edge of the area, he was allowed time to shoot by a timid Swiss defence and made them pay, smashing the ball past Sommer and into the bottom corner. 2-0 and Italy were in full control. On as a substitute, Zuber attempted to reduce the arrears, but Donnarumma was in place to save. The Azzurri have also got their goalkeeper to thank for not conceding in their past ten games. At the other end, Berardi fired over from a good position and was then replaced by Toloi, while Chiesa came on for Lorenzo Insigne. Space continued to open up for Italy, who came close to adding a third through Immobile on two occasions. Mancini took off Locatelli, who received a standing ovation, and also gave Barella a breather. Pessina and Cristante were sent on for the final few minutes. And then, with 89 minutes on the clock, Immobile let fly from distance and netted his 15th Azzurri goal (he’s now scored in three consecutive Italy matches) in the process. Once again, Mancini’s men were applauded off the pitch by the fans in the stadium. Players and supporters will meet at the Stadio Olimpico once again on Sunday, when the Azzurri will come up against Wales on home turf. Then, Mancini’s men will go on their travels. The hope is they’ll only return after 11 July.

Itinerary (all times CEST) 

Thursday 17 June
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Friday 18 June
** 14:00 – Players meet media
*17:00 – Training (behind closed doors)

Saturday 19 June
11:00 – Transfer Florence-Rome
**16:45 – Press conference, Coach + 1 player at Hotel Parco dei Principi
*19:15 – Training at the Olympic Center Giulio Onesti (behind closed doors except for first 15 mins)

Sunday 20 June
18:00 – Italy vs. Wales at the Stadio Olimpico. Press conference/media duties after full-time. 

N.B. Timetables are subject to possible change
* photos will be taken and shared by FIGC 
**media access will be limited to reduced numbers