well this is the kind of match every football fan looks forward to a lot on the line and the
likelihood of a tension-packed occasion stay tuned we'll have all the action for you live on ea tv
welcome everyone on a perfect night for football with the floodlights beaming down
i'm derek ray getting ready to bring you all the action accompanied by my broadcasting
partner stuart robson and what we've got coming up for you is group stage action
from the cut it's northern ireland against italy well it's vital that you don't have
an off day in these group games consistency is key to progressing further in the tournament
i'm looking forward to a hard fought contest here today derek
the italy starting eleven john luigi donnarumma stands between the posts
leonardo bonucci plays with giorgio chiellini in central defense
jorginho plays alongside marco verratti in the engine room oh derek big
and just the ideal start
well here's the goal again and it's a great ball to put him through
good vision to set up the chance but really the goalkeeper should never be exposed that easily
great team goal but woeful defending
one nil then
lewis
niall mcginn the delivery now that still could be dangerous
danger reverse it for now
kieza and options in the center decent cross but nobody in the vicinity lorenzo and senior
wonderful challenge and a throw-in coming up
bernardi now with jorginho kieza he might be late
and that a piece of goalkeeping you're going to see again and again and again
and over comes the corner making sure nothing came of it but he tried in vain to get himself back on
side well he needs to show greater awareness there and hold on to the ball a fraction longer
good physical play
evans and the keeper can gather
giovanni di lorenzo on to jorginho can they hit on the break and return to imobi
insignia and a tidy challenge
dallas
dangerous looking attack
and a throw in it's going to be
crossing possibilities makes his way in field he's got to score superb stop
will the crowd know that set pieces could be their best chance just listen to that reaction
trying to deliver it accurately well they're going to be very
cross with themselves because that was a wasted opportunity
pretty good reading of the game to win possession back
stephen davis just made sure nothing came of that this might be ideal for the counter
kieza and he's in
and it's gone in the teams separated by two goals now you cannot say they don't deserve it
well here it is again and the pace in which they break forward is devastating
it's so hard to defend against and once he gets onto it he just smashes it past
the keeper with great technique what an emphatic finish that is
so two-nil now using his physical strength to shield it they've regained possession
well italy have certainly tried to control the flow of the game and as
a result of dominated the game some of their passing movements have been
a joy to watch and i don't think anything's going to change that
well not quite the result he was hoping for with that shot close though
a chance then for the respective managers to address their charges it is half time here
well as we highlight him you've got to say he's been well below his usual high standards normally
so composed in the middle of the park stuart well he's struggled today he just hasn't been able to
find space he hasn't passed it very well and he's become frustrated and as a result the team have
played paul the teams are ready to have a go at each other again as the second half commences
emerson
versi
nicely cut out
really getting stuck in
on high marks for that pass
and unable to keep the ball
veering in field here able to get a body in the way
over it comes
and he takes us on and that a piece of goalkeeping you're going to see again and again and again
now sending us in mopping up defensively
30 minutes left for play
crossing opportunity
georginio well they must exercise caution standing off as they are
moving the ball forward with purpose is it going to be
oh he really brews the crossbar well a top-notch piece of defensive judgment racing forward trying
to catch them out well how did that not go in it was a great effort you have to say oh sure they
must score oh that's really high class goalkeeping but hang on offside is the decision here
they decided that now is the time to go to the bench
and into the last 20 minutes and they keep things sticking over nicely with insignia
and what's he going to do well the clearance half-hearted
and i think the threat has been averted
stephen davis and the counter looks on here options available
mclaughlin
dallas boyce and the challenge holds them in their tracks
lorenzo in senior a chance maybe from the wide position into the middle from lorenzo
in senior well they haven't overcome all the difficulties sends it back
safe pair of hands did his job keeper not concentrating
quieza takes the shots and off the crossbar well he must have thought that was in
he struck it so cleanly so deciding to make a personnel change at this juncture
stephen davis
dallas
mcginnis stuart dallas this looks promising splendid block from keolini
he must finish no way through
now the referee not too happy with the challenge and blows for a free kick
well they really need this and it goes a well-taken penalty
let's take another look he deceives the goalkeeper really well here by getting
to dive one way before placing it into the opposite side a really good penalty
well underway again it's a narrow 2-1 lead as things stand
so two minutes of stoppage time to be added on
now saddle nile mcginn josh mcginnis opportunity here oh denied by the post
and there it is the final whistle a really positive start on match day one
an away win stuart yeah it's so vital to get off to a quick start in these group stages
they'll be happy with the three points but now they have to back it up in the next game
six points and you're halfway there his performance in this particular game will have
impressed many people stuart well i thought his all-round game was excellent it was his ability
to find space that impressed me most and with a bit more luck he could have had a second one today
you