Italy’s World Cup adventure begins with a goalfest. It took 25 minutes to break the deadlock against a modest but eager opponent, with the game opening up after that first goal. The game against the Solomon Islands was over in the first half as the Azzurrini went in 3-0 up at the break. Willy Gnonto marked his Azzurrini debut with a brace, with the Inter forward the youngest in the squad and set to turn 16 at the beginning of November.

Italy started cautiously but had a chance in just the 17th minute as Pirola’s header was pushed onto the crossbar by the goalkeeper. It then took a further seven minutes until the deadlock was broken, with Panada winning the ball back in midfield and playing it through to Tongya, who in turn set free Gnonto: the 15-year-old’s shot was too hot to handle for the keeper and found a way into the net to give Italy the lead.

Italy struck again five minutes later as Gnonto did well once more to play Cudrig through on goal, with the forward one on one against the goalkeeper there was only ever going to be one outcome: 2-0 to the Azzurrini.

The third goal came in the 34th minute, once again through the Cudrig-Gnonto duo, with the former’s delightful backheel setting Gnonto free to strike home for his second of the day.

The scoreline remained the same for the majority of what remained in the game, as the Solomon Islands struggled to create anything of note with Italy bossing possession. Plenty of chances fell to the Azzurrini but it wasn’t until the 75th minute that they found another goal, this time Tongya hitting home Ruggeri’s assist into the top corner. The game was then completely killed off in the 81st minute as Capone, subbed on for Gnonto, scored Italy’s fifth of the day.

Nunziata spoke after the game: “The boys suffered from the excitement of the occasion at the start of the match and we still haven’t fully adapted to the climate here. It was our first game and getting the win was very important. We’ll face a tougher opponent on Thursday and we’ll have to be better.”

The tournament will certainly come alive in the next game as Italy face Mexico who ought to be a much stronger opponent. Mexico play Paraguay today in Group F, and will then face Italy on 31 October at the Bezerrao Stadium, the game kicking off at midnight CET.

Solomon Islands 0-5 Italy

Scorers: 24' and 34' Gnonto; 29' Cudrig; 75' Tongya; 81' Capone

Solomon Islands (4-2-4). Malam, Taebo (30’ Fakasori), Kofana, Tongaka, Alick (61’ Sale), Kanahanimae, Kwaimamani, Mani (C), Leai, Irosaea (83' Geseni), Ropa. Coach: Waita. Substitutes: Peua (GK), Suta (GK),, Suri, Foata, Limoki, Hou, Sofu.

Italy (4-3-2-1). Molla, Lamanna, Dalle Mura, Pirola, Ruggeri; Brentan, Panada (C), Udogie (46’ Giovane); Gnonto (64’ Capone), Tongya, Cudrig (85’ Boscolo Chio). Coach: Nunziata. Substitutes: Rinaldi (GK), Gasparini (GK), Moretti, Riccio, Barbieri, Oristanio, Arlotti.

Referee: Jiyed Redouane (Mar); Assistants: Lahsen Azgaou (Mar) and Mostafa Akarkad (Mar); Fourth Official: Peter Waweru (Ken); VAR: Abdulla Al-Marri (Qat)

Bookings: Dalle Mura

Group F Fixture List

Monday 28 October
Solomon Islands 0-5 ITALY
Paraguay vs. Mexico (00:00 CET, Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia)
Ranking: Italy 3 points, Paraguay, Mexico and Solomon Islands 0

Thursday 31 October
Solomon Islands vs. Paraguay (21:00 CET, Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia)
Mexico vs. ITALY (00:00 CET, Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia)

Sunday 3 November
ITALY vs. Paraguay (00:00 CET, Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia)
Mexico vs. Solomon Islands (00:00 CET, Estadio Kleber Andrade, Vitoria)

The top two teams in each group along with the best four third-placed teams will progress to the round of sixteen.