Italy and Turkey get ball rolling as Euro 2020 begins under Covid cloud

An in-form Italy faces Turkey in Rome on Friday as Euro 2020 finally gets underway a year behind schedule and with the coronavirus pandemic casting a shadow over the tournament. Postponed 12 months ago because of the pandemic, the European Championship -- with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal the holders -- is being played for the first time all across the continent, with 11 cities from as far apart as Seville to Baku hosting matches. Matches are being played in front of limited crowds and with stringent health restrictions in place.

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In Rome, the Stadio Olimpico will be filled to about 25 percent of capacity, meaning 16,000 supporters will be present to watch Roberto Mancini's Italy face Turkey in the first game in Group A.

"The opener is always difficult, and there will be plenty of emotions but you can't get too carried away. We have created a great squad. We want to continue to have fun together and we will try to make it to London. I'm very positive" said Mancini, who has guided the Azzurri back to a major tournament after their ignominious failure to reach the 2018 World Cup.

The former Italy coach, winner of the 2006 World Cup Marcello Lippi believes Nicolo Barella and Ciro Immobile will be Italy’s key players at Euro 2020.

“I can see Italy have self-esteem and the quality to reach a great result. However, the reality is that Italy always play to win, every time we play a big competition. If we’ll be lucky enough and all the players will be fit, then everything is possible. I see two players who can be decisive. The first one is Nicolò Barella, because he does everything top players do in his position. He attacks and defends, he has the confidence to shoot from outside the penalty area, he is the prototype of a great international midfielder. The other one is Ciro Immobile. I trust him and I think the right moment has come to reap the rewards of his hard work” said Lippi in an interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Wembley Stadium in London will host the semi-finals of the 24-team tournament as well as the final on July 11. As anticipation grows, the build-up has been overshadowed by several positive Covid-19 cases. Hours before the competition kicked off Russia, who open against Belgium on Saturday, announced winger Andrei Mostovoy had contracted the virus and was ruled out of the tournament.

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Spain's squad was vaccinated on Friday morning by the army at their Las Rozas training headquarters near Madrid following positive tests to two of their players -- Sergio Busquets and Diego Llorente. Spain even had to name a "parallel" squad of 17 reserve players, fearing a possible wider outbreak in the official 26-man squad.

Sweden forward Dejan Kulusevski of Juventus and midfielder Mattias Svanberg also tested positive, with six reserve players called upon stand-by. But despite the ongoing threat, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has been bullish, insisting the Euro will be safe.

"It will be the perfect opportunity to show the world that Europe is adapting. Europe is alive and celebrating life. Europe is back" he said recently.

© Agence France-Presse