Euro 2020 matchday LIVE: Italy vs Wales, Switzerland vs Turkey updates, news and TV reaction

Ah, the weight of expectations. Surely, when you were chatting with your friends before Euro 2020 got underway, one of them ventured that Turkey were the dark horses of the competition, a potential wrinkle in Italy’s plans to come through Group A without a problem.

Well, it’s been more misery than magic for the once-supposed stallions of the Crescent-Stars – yet, remarkably, they are not out of this race yet.

Victory in Baku against Switzerland would hoist them to third – and if they can notch up a not inconsiderable margin of victory too, they may stand a chance of an unlikely knockout stage berth. Senol Gunes has his work cut out – but the dream, for now, remains there for the taking.

They’ll need to mount a convincing defeat of Turkey in the hotbed of Baku and hope that Italy’s much-changed side can do them a favour, but Switzerland may feel they have a point to prove after their first two games.

Nominally seeded second as a qualification group winner, they have underperformed so far, pegged back by a late Wales goal and then given a rough ride by the Azzurri.

If Vladimir Petkovic catches a glance of Mancini’s changes, he may feel quite aggrieved – but it will surely only fuel a side determined to prove themselves to stay firmly in the race for the last-16.

With their last-16 place wrapped up last time out, it isn’t too surprising that Roberto Mancini has opted to let several of Italy’s proverbial second-stringers have a chance to start in a major tournament.

Giorgio Chiellini’s first-half injury last time out obviously makes for an enforced change, but outside of Leonardo Bonucci, only Chelsea midfielder Jorginho and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma have kept their spot, ensuring that several major talents remain injury-free heading to the knockout rounds.

Make no mistake, this is still an Italy side capable of finding a result – but could Wales have enough nous in the bag to end the Azzurri’s near-three-year unbeaten run in Rome today? They’ll certainly fancy themselves against that lineup.

Mention the words Euro 2016 anywhere across the United Kingdom, and two flashpoints spring to mind. One is England’s abject humiliation – draws with Russia and Slovakia in the group stage and a last-16 exit to Iceland.

The other is of Wales’ triumphant march to the semi-finals, much unfancied underdogs guided by an indomitable spirit under Chris Coleman, beating off Northern Ireland and Belgium on the way to a valiant exit against Portugal.

Five years on, and Rob Page’s side can dream of another knockout run this time around. The faces may have changed in part, but guiding figures – Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey – remain. A draw is all they need to guarantee it today.

Getty