Italy v Belgium (14 June 19:45 BST)

Goals from Francesco Totti and Stefano Fiore allowed Italy to cruise to a 2-0 victory over co-hosts Belgium. Totti gave the Italians a dream start with a goal fron a diving header after just six minutes. The Italians, helped by a superb display by goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, then soaked up almost an hour of Belgian pressure before Fiore played a one-two with Filippo Inzaghi and swept a right foot shot past Belgian goalkeeper Filip De Wilde in the 65th minute. The result leaves the Italians with six points from their opening two matches and virtually assures them a place in the quarter-finals. Belgium will have to compete with ...  Read the complete review

for me this confirms what i have believed for a while now; that italy have the quality and self-belief to win this tournament playing in the exact style that suits them best. many people have pointed out that belgium monopolised possession, but this is exactly how the italians most like to play. crucially they tend to improve throughout tournaments, and with the ay the draw is opening up they are beginning to look certainties to play france in the semis, which appears like it will be the deciding game of the tournament (although i refuse to disregard spain and holland). it loks to me like it will take something very special indeed to prevent the italians from doing what ...  Read the complete review