Belgium 0-2 Italy

Belgium 0-2 Italy: Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle 

score as Antonio Conte's side make winning  start in Group of

 Death

•  Sunderland's Emanuele Giaccherini scored Italy's first goal as they beat Belgium in Lyon

•  Graziano Pelle made sure of the victory, finishing off a fine counter-attacking move in injury time

•  With Sweden and Ireland drawing 1-1 earlier in the day, Antonio Conte's side already have a two-point lead

•  Romelu Lukaku missed Belgium's best chance when he lifted the ball over the bar in the second half 

By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail

Antonio Conte wasn't the only one left nursing a bloody nose here at the Stade de Lyon.

The incoming Chelsea boss suffered his injury celebrating Emanuele Giaccherini’s opening goal. In the case of Marc Wilmots and his Belgium players, on the other hand, this was another chastening occasion on the big stage.

The wait for Belgium’s golden generation to glitter goes on. This was a familiar story for a group that continues to fail to be the sum of its parts, that fails to click. There is something missing from Wilmots’ team and it is not just the cohesion that makes this Italy team so hard to beat.

 Graziano Pelle lashes the ball home in injury time to make sure of the points for Italy

 Pelle wheels away in delight after doubling Italy's advantage while ensuring a miserable night for Belgium

 Pelle is congratulated by his team-mates as Italy celebrate making a winning start to the European Championship

 Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrates after Pelle's goal sent the Italians into delirium

 Although the veteran keeper was not quite able to swing on the crossbar as he tumbled to the ground

Conte’s side were everything that Belgium were not: resolute, passionate and together.

When Graziano Pelle fired an emphatic second goal in added time, the bench emptied and the celebrations started as if they had won Euro 2016.

More followed at the final whistle, veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon falling on his backside as he tried to swing off the crossbar. It was about the only thing the 38-year-old got wrong all night as he continues to defy time.

‘You have this alchemy between players who enjoy being together,’ said Conte. ‘The best thing for me was how everyone got involved. Everyone is pulling together and there is a great spirit in the side.

‘When supporters see players giving their all on the pitch — players willing to spill blood, sweat and tears — they really appreciate that regardless of what they have in terms of talent.’

Conte also said his players were determined to perform after their dismal World Cup in Brazil.

‘We need to be happy tonight and then start preparing for Sweden because two years ago we won the first game with an excellent performance but went out in the group stage,’ he said. ‘These memories burn me and the supporters.Two years ago is still an open wound.’

Meanwhile, Belgium sloped off the pitch and headed for the now familiar inquest. Two years ago, they laboured to the quarter-finals of the World Cup before making a disappointing exit. Now, their first appearance in the European Championship finals since they co-hosted the tournament in 2000 has begun in equally deflating fashion.

This game was always going to be a contrast of styles between Belgium, a team ranked second in the world and committed to attacking football, and Italy, beaten finalists four years ago and defensive misers who qualified as one of only four undefeated teams while scoring seven goals.

It went Italy’s way simply because they executed their game-plan better. For all Belgium’s attacking intent, only two of their 18 attempts were on target.

Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne were disappointing, Romelu Lukaku largely anonymous.

 MATCH FACTS

• Belgium (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Ciman 6 (Carrasco 75, 6), Alderweireld 5, Vermaelen 6.5, Vertonghen 6; Nainggolan 7 (Mertens 61, 6), Witsel 5.5; De Bruyne 6, Fellaini 6.5, Hazard 6; R Lukaku 5 (Origi 73, 6).

• Subs not used: Mignolet, Gillet, Denayer, Meunier, Kabasele, Dembele, Benteke, J Lukaku, Batshuayi.

• Italy (3-5-2): Buffon 7; Barzagli 7, Bonucci 8, Chiellini 7; Candreva 6.5, Parolo 6, De Rossi 6 (Motta 78, 6), Giaccherini 7, Darmian 6 (De Sciglio 58, 6); Pelle 6, Eder 6 (Immobile 75, 6).

• Subs not used: Sirigu, Marchetti, Ogbonna, Zaza, Florenzi, Motta, Sturano, Insigne, Bernardeschi, El Shaarawy.

• Goals: Giaccherini 32, Pelle 90

• Booked: Chiellini, Eder, Bonucci, Motta

• Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Eng) 7

• Star man: Leonardo Bonucci

 Italy's Emanuele Giaccherini scores the opening goal past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois

 Courtois can do nothing about the shot after Giaccherini stole a march on the Belgium defence

 The ball hits the back of the net as the Belgium defence laments the concession of the goal on the half-hour mark

 Giaccherini is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Italy's first goal of the tournament in France

 Giaccherini also made a bee-line for the Italy bench to celebrate with his team-mates on the bench

 Antonio Conte suffered a nose bleed while celebrating Italy's first goal of the game

 Italy’s plan was clear from the start: to frustrate their opponents, primarily by using wing-backs Matteo Darmian and Antonio Candreva to counteract the threat from Hazard and De Bruyne.

Lukaku nodded on for Radja Nainggolan — reported to be a target for Conte when he takes over at Chelsea — to force Buffon into a fine save from 25 yards out.

When Italy struggled to clear their lines shortly afterwards, Marouane Fellaini again prodded the ball to Nainggolan who fired wide from a similar distance.

It took Italy half an hour to fire their first shot in anger, Pelle curling harmlessly wide. But Conte’s side took a surprise lead moments later. There seemed little danger when Leonardo Bonucci advanced over halfway but he floated a wonderful ball over the Belgium defence. It brushed the head of Toby Alderweireld and dropped to Giaccherini, the Sunderland striker on loan at Bologna last season. He killed the ball with one touch of his left foot and stroked it past Thibaut Courtois with his right.

 Pelle missed a chance to add to his tally for Italy after a hit-and-miss season with Southampton - but would later make amends

 Pelle can't hide his frustration after his missed chance in the first half in Belgium

 Romelu Lukaku came close to levelling for Belgium but he lifted his ball over Buffon and the crossbar

 Everton striker Lukaku didn't need to be told that he had missed the chance to haul Belgium back into the match

 Thibaut Courtois dives to his right to save from Pelle and keep Belgium's deficit to just one

Pelle should have extended the lead almost immediately, but the Southampton striker headed wide from Marco Parolo’s flick.

De Bruyne almost punished Italy before half time after more good work by Fellaini, but goalscorer Giaccherini made a fantastic block to keep out his shot.

Considering that Italy came out for the second half prepared to defend deep, it was a surprise when one of Belgium’s best chances came from a breakaway in the 54th minute. Lukaku charged into acres of space unmarked and was picked out by a great pass from De Bruyne. Buffon raced off his line as the Everton striker floated his effort wide of an unguarded goal.

Italy chased and they harried, and when that didn’t worked, they just fouled. Bonucci, Eder and substitute Thiago Motta were all happy to pick up yellow cards from referee Mark Clattenburg.

Red shirts swarmed around the box in search of a way through and an opportunity finally presented itself when De Bruyne’s cross picked out Divock Origi, but the Liverpool striker headed over.

Italy broke again in added time. Ciro Immobile fed Candreva on the right and he floated a cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Pelle met it with an emphatic volley.

Conte’s nose had stopped bleeding. Belgium’s troubles continue to flow unabated.

 Italy manager Antonio Conte - who will join Chelsea after the tournament - cut an animated figure on the touchline

 Marouane Fellaini, who was sporting a bleached-blond haircut, views with Italy defender Andrea Barzagli

 Kevin De Bruyne stretches for the ball with Matteo Darmian also keeping an eye on it

Workers clear water away prior to the match following a downpour of rain before kick-off