ON the brink of reaching the last 16, Wales face a huge test in their final Euro 2020 group match as they take on rampant Italy.
Gareth Bale & Co sit behind Italy on four points and will guarantee advancing to the knock-out stage with a point.
- Kick-off: 5pm BST
- Switzerland vs Turkey also LIVE now in Group A
- TV/ live stream: ITV/ ITV Hub
- Italy XI: Donnarumma, Toloi, Bonucci, Bastoni, Emerson, Verratti, Jorginho, Pessina, Chiesa, Belotti, Bernardeschi
- Wales XI: Ward, Roberts, Williams, Rodon, Ampadu, Gunter, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, Bale, James
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ITALY 0-0 WALES
7′ Bonucci again goes long searching for Belotti but Ward is out quick to collect.
SWITZERLAND TAKE THE LEAD
Seferovic opens the scoring in the other game.
ITALY 0-0 WALES
4′ Bale sends the free kick deep into the box and Williams gets in behind Toloi but his cross is straight at the keeper.
ITALY 0-0 WALES
3′ Early marker on Dan James as Jorginho goes through the back of him on halfway.
Another free kick follows as Bale – who is being booed by the home support – is chopped down.
ITALY 0-0 WALES
2′ Bonucci does the same as he sends a cross-field ball over the top for Bernardeschi on the right.
He works it onto his left foot to play it into the area but the flag is up for offside.
ITALY 0-0 WALES
1′ Gareth Bale goes searching with a ball over the top early but Donnarumma out swiftly to collect.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
Matchday 3 is underway in Euro 2020.
TEAMS REMINDER
The starting XI’s as we get set to get underway.
ITALY XI: Donnarumma, Toloi, Bonucci, Bastoni, Emerson, Verratti, Jorginho, Pessina, Chiesa, Belotti, Bernardeschi
WALES XI: Ward, Roberts, Williams, Rodon, Ampadu, Gunter, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, Bale, James
ANTHEM TIME
A passionate starting XI, backroom staff and playing squad are all on their feet for the Welsh anthem.
Keeping in the theme of passionate, the Italian anthem quickly follows….
The Red Wall in Rome
HERE THEY COME
Leonardo Bonucci leads the Italians out to a rousing Rome reception.
Shortly after, they are followed by Gareth Bale who leads the men in red out.
TUNNEL TIME
The players gather in the Stadio Olimpico tunnel with kick-off approaching
RECORD CHASERS
As if the challenge tonight wasn’t already hard enough.
But the Italians are chasing their own record of THIRTY games unbeaten,
It’s also TEN clean sheets in a row.
A well-oiled machine – but it is eight changes tonight….
Mancini watches the warm-ups HAVE YOUR SAY
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ZAM BATTLE
Former Italy stalwart Gianluca Zambrotta is expecting another tough battle tonight.
Italy want to continue the scintillating form they have shown so far in front of their fans in Rome. Thus far we have seen two demanding matches, so the changes in Mancini’s line-up were expected. Wales have proven to be a tough opponent with talented players, it will be a great battle.
Gianluca Zambrotta
THE RED WALL
Given all the challenges with travel these days and getting hands on a ticket.
A typically good following have arrived in Rome to support the Welsh!
GETTING WARM
The players are out now and being put through their paces with just over half an hour until we get started.
Ampadu, Allen and Bale Emerson of Italy SPEAKING OF HARTSON
Here he is the last time Wales beat the Italians.
Not a bad through ball from the big forward!
‘HOT AND STICKY’
The atmosphere and weather is described as ‘hot and sticky’ as it approaches teatime in Rome.
Wales legend John Hartson doesn’t think the atmosphere in Rome will affect the Welshmen.
I don’t think it will affect the Welsh team.
Our players play across Europe and around the globe in hostile atmospheres.
Some of them will even thrive on it.
Wales can’t afford to give away too much possession early on.
We will need to defend strongly but we have great pace going forward and will look to hurt the Italians.John Hartson
HOW WE STAND
The Group A standings are the first two round of fixtures.
The other game in the group should be interesting too with the Swiss and Turkey both needing a win to get through.
A Wales defeat would mean keeping an eye on the other clash -hopefully it doesn’t come to that.
THE STORY SO FAR
Here’s where we are so far as the final group stage group gets underway in an hour.
Worse 150/1 bets out there, given how some of the ‘big’ teams have played.
HAVE YOUR SAY
With both sides making changes, who do you think will come out on top in this Group A clash?
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SETTING THE SCENE
The fans have started filtering into the Stadio Olimpico.
Stadio Olimpico, Rome Green, white and red on show Wales fans gather pre-kick off ITALY TEAM NEWS
A host of changes for Roberto Mancini too as Ciro Immobile, Manuel Locatelli, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Lorenzo Insigne all rested.
Giorgio Chiellini misses out altogether.
The Italians just need a point to guarantee top spot.
ITALY XI: Donnarumma, Toloi, Bonucci, Bastoni, Emerson, Verratti, Jorginho, Pessina, Chiesa, Belotti, Bernardeschi
WALES TEAM NEWS
Three changes for Rob Page for the trip to Rome.
Ben Davies, Chris Mepham and Kiefer Moore are left out.
Neco Williams, Chris Gunter and Ethan Ampadu come in.
WALES XI: Ward, Roberts, Williams, Rodon, Ampadu, Gunter, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, Bale, James
THE TEAM NEWS IS IN!
Some interesting team news, especially from the hosts…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
