Euro 2020 opened in spectacular fashion as Italy got their campaign off to an impressive start in front of their own fans with a comfortable victory against Turkey.
There were shades of Italia 90 before kick-off when Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli, against backdrop of a breathtaking firework display, graced the opening ceremony with a moving performance of Nessun Dorma.
And when the rescheduled tournament finally began in earnest, an own goal by Merih Demiral and strikes by Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne settled the one-sided Group A match - the first of 51 fixtures to be played in 11 European cities over the next month.
The Azzurri dominated the first half but could not find the net, Giorgio Chiellini going closest with a header from a corner which brought a fine save from Ugurcan Cakir.
They broke the deadlock when Demiral turned the ball past his own keeper trying to cut out Domenico Berardi's second-half cross before Lazio's Immobile, playing on his home ground, pounced after Leonardo Spinazzola's shot was blocked by the keeper.
Italy wrapped up a satisfying win though Insigne's powerful finish, after he was teed up by the impressive Immobile.
A sense of celebration
On a warm night in Italy's capital city, the national stadium was only a quarter full but the fans present added to a sense of celebration at the start of Europe's biggest football carnival, which had been delayed 12 months by the coronavirus pandemic.
The 16,000 inside the ground represented the biggest crowd in Italy for a year and a half, while those unable to get a ticket watched the action unfold on big screens set up across Rome.
With the city hosting a further three three matches during the tournament, authorities in the city have laid on a programme of events, including shows tracing the history of Italy in the Euros.
The opening ceremony also featured Italy World Cup winners Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta kicking footballs into the stands, not to mention trapeze artists performing high above the pitch - but eventually the pre-match spectacle ended and the football finally began, although not before the match ball was brought on to the pitch by a remote controlled car.
Azzurri show they mean business
Italy's coach Roberto Mancini had talked about "an extra level of pressure" on his team for being involved in the opening match.
Portugal in 2004, Switzerland in 2008 and Poland in 2012 are all examples of host, or co-host, nations coming unstuck on the opening night of the European Championship.
The pressure on the Azzurri was not helped by their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup but this was an impressive start from one of the fancied teams.
For the first time in a single game at the European Championship, the Azzurri scored three times, Mancini's side registering 24 attempts as they turned on the style.
Turkey had beaten world champions France in qualifying but they lacked a real threat without Cenk Tosun, their top scorer in qualifying, who is out of the tournament with a knee injury.
What's next?
Both teams are back in Group A action on Wednesday, with Wales providing the opposition for Turkey in Baku (17:00 BST) while Italy take on Switzerland in Rome (20:00).
Player of the match
SpinazzolaLeonardo Spinazzola
Line-ups
Turkey
Formation 4-1-4-1
23Çakir
2Zeki Çelik3Demiral4Söyüncü13Meras
5Yokuslu
9Karaman11Yazici6Tufan10Calhanoglu
17Yilmaz
23Çakir2Zeki Çelik3Demiral4SöyüncüBooked at 88mins13Meras5YokusluSubstituted forKahveciat 65'minutes9KaramanSubstituted forDervisogluat 76'minutesBooked at 90mins11YaziciSubstituted forÜnderat 45'minutes6TufanSubstituted forAyhanat 64'minutes10Calhanoglu17YilmazSubstitutes
1Günok7Ünder8Tokoz12Bayindir14Antalyali15Kabak16Ünal19Kökcü21Kahveci22Ayhan25Müldür26DervisogluItaly
Formation 4-3-3
21G Donnarumma
24Florenzi19Bonucci3Chiellini4Spinazzola
18Barella8Jorginho5Locatelli
11Berardi17Immobile10Insigne
21G Donnarumma24FlorenziSubstituted forDi Lorenzoat 45'minutes19Bonucci3Chiellini4Spinazzola18Barella8Jorginho5LocatelliSubstituted forCristanteat 74'minutes11BerardiSubstituted forBernardeschiat 85'minutes17ImmobileSubstituted forBelottiat 81'minutes10InsigneSubstituted forChiesaat 81'minutesSubstitutes
1Sirigu2Di Lorenzo9Belotti12Pessina13Emerson14Chiesa15Acerbi16Cristante20Bernardeschi22Raspadori23Bastoni26MeretReferee:Danny MakkelieAttendance:12,916Live Text
Match ends, Turkey 0, Italy 3.
Second Half ends, Turkey 0, Italy 3.
Attempt missed. Merih Demiral (Turkey) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Cengiz Ünder with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Turkey. Conceded by Giorgio Chiellini.
Attempt blocked. Burak Yilmaz (Turkey) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hakan Calhanoglu with a through ball.
Halil Dervisoglu (Turkey) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Nicolò Barella (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Halil Dervisoglu (Turkey).
Çaglar Söyüncü (Turkey) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Federico Bernardeschi (Italy) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Çaglar Söyüncü (Turkey).
Foul by Nicolò Barella (Italy).
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Italy).
Irfan Can Kahveci (Turkey) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Italy. Conceded by Burak Yilmaz.
Andrea Belotti (Italy) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Çaglar Söyüncü (Turkey).
Substitution, Italy. Federico Bernardeschi replaces Domenico Berardi because of an injury.
Federico Chiesa (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
