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In-form Italy became the first team to reach the knockout stage of the European Championship with another impressive Group A showing in victory over Switzerland.
Roberto Mancini’s side thumped Turkey on the opening day of the tournament and made it back-to-back 3-0 wins courtesy of another sprightly performance in Rome.
Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored twice, first by finishing off a move he started by tapping in from Domenico Berardi’s darting run and cutback.
Italy’s passing and pressing was far superior to their opponents and Locatelli’s fizzing strike from the edge of the area underlined their control of the contest.
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile’s long-range drive, which squirmed under goalkeeper Yann Sommer, completed a comprehensive victory late on.
Switzerland barely threatened an Italian backline that has now gone 10 games without conceding in all competitions, a run approaching 1,000 minutes.
World champions France were tipped by many as pre-tournament favourites, but Italy have showcased their credentials as strong contenders with two eye-catching performances.
Once again they set the tempo before kick-off with a rousing rendition of the national anthem, sung with gusto by players and supporters alike at the Stadio Olimpico.
Switzerland struggled to cope as the Azzurri impressively extended their unbeaten run to 29 games, and their fierce defence and ruthless attacking play in the final third looks like it will take some stopping as this tournament progresses.
Before this championship, Italy had never netted three goals in a game at the Euros but Immobile’s effort means they have now achieved the feat twice in two games.
One blemish for the Italians came with an injury to captain Giorgio Chiellini, who had a close-range finish ruled out for handball shortly before he was forced off with a suspected hamstring problem.
Switzerland’s only chance of note fell to substitute Steven Zuber, but his low shot from the angle was comfortable for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to deal with.
Italy can finish top of the group with a point against Wales on Sunday, which would set up a last-16 meeting against the runner-up in Group C at Wembley Stadium on 26 June.
Player of the match
LocatelliManuel Locatelli
Line-ups
Italy
Formation 4-3-3
- 21G Donnarumma
- 2Di Lorenzo
- 19Bonucci
- 3ChielliniSubstituted forAcerbiat 24′minutes
- 4Spinazzola
- 18BarellaSubstituted forCristanteat 87′minutes
- 8Jorginho
- 5LocatelliSubstituted forPessinaat 86′minutes
- 11BerardiSubstituted forTolóiat 70′minutes
- 17Immobile
- 10InsigneSubstituted forChiesaat 69′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Sirigu
- 9Belotti
- 12Pessina
- 13Emerson
- 14Chiesa
- 15Acerbi
- 16Cristante
- 20Bernardeschi
- 22Raspadori
- 23Bastoni
- 25Tolói
- 26Meret
Switzerland
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Sommer
- 4Elvedi
- 22SchärSubstituted forZuberat 57′minutes
- 5Akanji
- 2MbabuSubstituted forWidmerat 58′minutes
- 8FreulerSubstituted forSowat 84′minutes
- 10Xhaka
- 13RodrÃguez
- 23ShaqiriSubstituted forVargasat 76′minutes
- 9SeferovicSubstituted forGavranovicat 45′minutesBooked at 49mins
- 7EmboloBooked at 79mins
Substitutes
- 3Widmer
- 6Zakaria
- 11Vargas
- 12Mvogo
- 14Zuber
- 15Sow
- 16Fassnacht
- 17Benito
- 18Mehmedi
- 19Gavranovic
- 21Kobel
- 25Cömert
- Referee:
- Sergey Karasev
- Attendance:
- 12,445
Live Text
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Match ends, Italy 3, Switzerland 0.
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Second Half ends, Italy 3, Switzerland 0.
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Attempt missed. Djibril Sow (Switzerland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Breel Embolo.
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Goal! Italy 3, Switzerland 0. Ciro Immobile (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rafael Tolói.
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Silvan Widmer (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Federico Chiesa (Italy).
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Substitution, Italy. Bryan Cristante replaces Nicolò Barella.
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Substitution, Italy. Matteo Pessina replaces Manuel Locatelli.
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Foul by Nico Elvedi (Switzerland).
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Federico Chiesa (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Switzerland. Djibril Sow replaces Remo Freuler.
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Foul by Ciro Immobile (Italy).
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Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Switzerland. Granit Xhaka tries a through ball, but Ruben Vargas is caught offside.
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Breel Embolo (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Substitution, Switzerland. Ruben Vargas replaces Xherdan Shaqiri.
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Attempt missed. Ciro Immobile (Italy) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Federico Chiesa with a through ball following a fast break.
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Foul by Nicolò Barella (Italy).
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Ricardo RodrÃguez (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Ciro Immobile (Italy) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Leonardo Bonucci.
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