Italy kick off their time at EURO 2025 in the best possible way, Soncin’s team beat Belgium 1-0 in Sion in front of a crowd of 7544 fans and the FIGC Secretary General Marco Brunelli and UEFA Deputy Secretary General Giorgio Marchetti. The Azzurre’s 1-0 victory marks their first opening-match win in the tournament since 2009. “That’s exactly what we wanted,” said head coach Andrea Soncin after the full-time whistle. “The first game is always the toughest. We weren’t perfect in the first 20 minutes, but we handled the match really well across the full 90.” The win places Italy second in Group B after Spain’s 5-0 victory over Portugal. The deciding goal came in the 44th minute, when Arianna Caruso found the net thanks to an assist from Di Guglielmo. “I’m really happy to have scored, but the most important thing was to win the match. I’m proud of our team. The first game is the most difficult. We’ll review everything that didn’t go so well, but we’ve secured three points, we’ll clear our heads, and from tomorrow, we focus on Portugal.”

First-Half Report

In the opening 45 minutes, both teams seemed to be on equal footing, and the game was relatively slow in pace, partly due to the heat. The first threats came from the Red Flames, particularly Wullaert and Eurlings. Cantore and Di Guglielmo seemed the most lively for Italy, but overall, both teams lacked buildup play and fluency in possession. Just before the half-hour mark, Italy were spared by Toloba’s missed opportunity: the Nantes forward fired a shot at the end of a quick Belgian counterattack, with Giuliani relieved to see it drift wide. Then in the 40th minute, following Salvai’s clearance, Wullaert also came close to scoring; the Inter striker demonstrated impressive ball control but ultimately missed the target by only a few centimetres. But just as it seemed that Belgium were putting on the pressure, Italy struck. Giugliano played the ball wide to Di Guglielmo, who found Caruso’s deep run. The former Juventus midfielder took a few touches before firing past Lichtfus. Italy’s first goal at EURO 2025 came from the Bayern Munich midfielder.

Second-Half Report

Belgium came out of the dressing room with a renewed intensity. Just two minutes into the second half, Wullaert mishit a delivery following a corner. The Azzurre, however, kept their tight defensive structure, allowing few chances and staying focused despite multiple stoppages.  As the half progressed, Soncin’s squad, with the aid of a few substitutions, pushed further up the pitch and began putting pressure on Gunnarsdóttir’s team. It was Girelli and her teammates who came closest to doubling Italy’s lead in the final third of the match. Then, the Juventus striker almost scored with a daring backheel, only to be denied by a sharp-footed save from Lichtfus (63’). Substitute Cambiaghi came close to securing the win twice: first by firing wide after a perfectly judged assist from Caruso (78’), then forcing the Belgian keeper into a low save that led to a corner (88’).

Italy grew in confidence and successfully held onto their narrow but valuable lead, as they sit second in Group B after Spain beat Portugal. Beyond the efforts of those on the pitch, the moral support of teammates who stayed in Switzerland despite not being selected for the squad, either because of injury or last-minute exclusion, played a vital role as head coach Soncin, and players Girelli and Caruso acknowledged: “I especially want to thank Galli, Rosucci, Gilardi and Beccari,” said Soncin. “Even though they knew they wouldn’t be playing, they stayed with us. They were chosen for the character and integrity they bring to the group, and they’ve done an amazing job creating this special atmosphere.” Italy will return to action on Monday, 7 July at 21:00 CEST against Portugal in Geneva.

 

BELGIUM 0-1 ITALY

Belgium (3-4-2-1): Lichtfus, Kees, Tysiak, Cayman; Janssens (from 66’ Wijnants), Vanhaevermaet (from 87’ De Caigny), Toloba (from 66’ Detruyer), Deloose (from 87’ Van Kerkhoven); Teulings, Eurlings (from 75’ Dhont); Wullaert. On the bench: Evrard, Bastiaen, Philtjens, Van Kerkhoven, Wijnants, De Caigny, Dhont, Blom, Mertens, Iliano, Detruyer, Missipo. Head Coach: Gunnarsdottir

Italy (3-5-2): Giuliani; Lenzini (from 72’ Piga), Salvai, Linari; Di Guglielmo (from 53’ Oliviero), Caruso, Giugliano (from 53’ Greggi), Severini, Boattin; Cantore (from 72’ Cambiaghi), Girelli. On the bench: Baldi, Durante, Oliviero, Schatzer, Piemonte, Bonansea, Piga, Bergamaschi, Serturini, Goldoni, Greggi, Cambiaghi. Head Coach: Soncin. Goal scorer: 44’ Caruso (I)

Referee: Grundbacher (SUI). Assistants: Susann Küng (SUI), Linda Schmid (SUI). Fourth official: Hristiyana Guteva (BUL). VAR: Fedayi San (SUI). AVAR: Alen Borošak (SVN).

Notes: Booked Lenzini (I), Di Guglielmo (I), Cantore (I), Kees (B)

 

Group B Schedule

Matchday 1: Belgium 0-1 ITALY, Spain 5-0 Portugal
Matchday 2: Portugal vs. ITALY, Spain vs. Belgium
Matchday 3: ITALY vs. Spain, Portugal vs. Belgium