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		</div><p><b>Italy 2 &#8211; Belgium 0</b></p>
<p>Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle got Italy off to a winning start with stunning goals to sink fellow Group E heavyweights Belgium 2-0.</p>
<p>Giaccherini has hardly set the world alight in three years at Sunderland &#8211; and spent last season on loan at Serie A Bologna &#8211; but he ignited Italy&#8217;s Euro 2016 challenge with a superb strike.</p>
<p>The winger coolly despatched a sublime ball over the top from Leonardo Bonucci in the first half, and Pelle volleyed a second in stoppage time to settle the eagerly-anticipated clash.</p>
<p>Belgium&#8217;s big names failed to spark for much of the game, with Romelu Lukaku missing their best chance before he was substituted with 20 minutes remaining.</p>
<p>Belgium at least looked like they could be threatening in the opening skirmishes with Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan&#8217;s fierce drive forcing a fine save from 38-year-old Italian Gianluigi Buffon.</p>
<p>But the Italians made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute when Leonardo Bonucci carved open the Belgium defence with a lofted ball from the halfway line.</p>
<p>Giaccherini peeled away from his marker, took one touch with his left foot and clinically tucked the ball past Thibaut Courtois with his right.</p>
<p>With Belgium&#8217;s defence suddenly all over the place Courtois had to beat away a fierce drive from Antonio Candreva before Pelle planted a free header wide from a corner with the goal gaping.</p>
<p>Belgium were surprisingly flat for most of the first half with Lukaku barely getting a kick and Kevin de Bruyne unable to get into the game. Although Eden Hazard occasionally looked dangerous, he could not do it on his own.</p>
<p>But shortly after half-time De Bruyne finally came to life with a brilliant crossfield ball to Lukaku.</p>
<p>However, the Everton striker&#8217;s first touch took him away from goal and as he lifted his shot over the advancing Buffon the ball curled across goal and wide.</p>
<p>Courtois then kept Belgium in the game with a stunning one-handed save to repel a powerful close-range header from Pelle.</p>
<p>Lukaku&#8217;s disappointing evening was brought to an end with Divock Origi summoned from the bench, and the Liverpool youngster had a chance to equalise with nine minutes remaining &#8211; but headed De Bruyne&#8217;s cross over the crossbar.</p>
<p>Belgium&#8217;s night was summed up a minute from time when Dries Mertens crossed into the area, Origi completely missed with an attempted header and the ball ricocheted between Marouane Fellaini&#8217;s legs before somehow ending up in the hands of Buffon.</p>
<p>And moments later Italy broke forward with Candreva crossing for Pelle to thump in a volley and make it 2-0, sparking wild celebrations from Italy.</p>
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