Italy reignited their
The visitors dominated the first half, capitalising on defensive lapses from the hosts to build an insurmountable lead. Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a deflected cross fell kindly for the Inter Milan defender. The pressure continued as Davide Frattesi doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute, pouncing on a loose ball after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to clear a low cross. Michael Kayode added a third shortly after, finding space on the right to beat the Turkish keeper at his near post.
Tactical Discipline and Late Drama
Turkey briefly threatened a comeback early in the second half when Baris Yilmaz found the net in the 47th minute, narrowing the deficit to 3-1. However, the momentum shift was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Pio Esposito restored Italy’s three-goal cushion by heading home a rebound after Sandro Tonali’s effort struck the post. The match remained intense, with a late Turkish effort from Yilmaz ruled out for offside, confirming a comfortable result for the Italians.
For Pio Esposito, the match held personal significance as he shared the pitch with his older brother, Sebastiano, who made his international debut. Following the final whistle, the striker dedicated his goal to his grandmother. Mancini praised his squad’s aggressive approach and high defensive line, noting that the performance provides a necessary boost as the team prepares for their upcoming fixture against France at the Stade de France this Friday.
France Maintain Momentum in Brussels
In the other Group A1 encounter, France secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Belgium in Brussels. In a tightly contested match where both sides struggled to convert opportunities, Michael Olise provided the decisive moment in the 88th minute. The forward navigated through the Belgian defense before drilling a low shot into the corner of the net.
The result marks a successful start for
