Italy started their Euro 2016 campaign with a 2-0 victory away to Norway on Tuesday and World Cup third-place finishers Netherlands lost 2-1 at the Czech Republic.
Under new coach Antonio Conte, Italy put their disappointing World Cup behind them as Simeone Zaza and Leonardo Bonucci found the net to secure the win in Oslo in the Group H encounter.
Zaza, playing only his second international, opened the scoring in slightly fortuitous circumstances in 16 minutes as his shot took a deflection off Havard Nielsen to leave goalkeeper Orjan Nyland helpless.
The points were made safe in the second half as substitute Manuel Pasqual crossed to set up Bonucci’s close-range header. Zaza struck the bar and had another effort cleared off the line as Italy saw out a deserved win.
“It was a difficult game compared to the one with the Netherlands (a friendly last Thursday),” Zaza said. “The Dutch were possibly stronger, but (Norway) were very gritty. Still, we managed to get the result.
I have lived an incredible week. My goal is to remain in this team and continue to do well. It is very hard to be a striker in a team steered by Conte, but if you want to do well as a team, this is the way to go.
Bulgaria scored late to defeat Azerbaijan 2-1 and Croatia beat 10-man Malta 2-0 thanks to Luka Modric and Andrej Kramaric in the other group games. Modric’s goal, a fine strike from distance, came as he celebrated his 29th birthday.
A stunning finish from Borek Dockal midway through the first half opened the scoring for the Czech Republic against the Netherlands as he curled home a magnificent effort with the outside of his foot.
The Netherlands improved after the break and Stefan de Vrij headed home a cross from Daley Blind to equalise. But the Czechs were not to be denied and Vaclav Pilar scored an injury time winner after an error from Daryl Janmaat.
Iceland top that group having benefited from a goalkeeping error from Turkey keeper Onur Kivrak en route to a 3-0 win as he failed to collect a corner and let Jon Dadi Bodvarsson bundle the ball home.
In Group B, Andorra scored their first competitive goal in four years as Ildefons Lima converted a sixth minute penalty but Gareth Bale, the most expensive player in the world, equalised with a header.
Andorra desperately tried to hang on for a rare point but Bale rescued an uninspired Wales with a brilliant free kick which flew over the wall to find the net with just nine minutes left.
Bosnia-Herzegovina were stunned at home as Cyprus came from behind to win the other group match.
Israel v Belgium was postponed due to the current security situation in Israel and is to be played in March 2015.
