JAKARTA - Manuel Locatelli led the Italian national team to advance to the last 16 of Euro 2020 after his two goals supported a 3-0 victory over Switzerland in Group A at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy, Wednesday local time (Thursday Indonesian time).
The victory sent Italy back to the top of Group A, having been evicted by Wales for several hours. With six points, Italy is certain to finish in at least the top two places in Group A's final standings.
Esteban Cambiasso on Locatelli: 🗣️ "Two beautiful, important goals to go with a performance of real quality."#EURO2020 | #EUROSOTM | @Heineken pic.twitter.com/RiQI0NBFnk
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 16, 2021
Locatelli has indeed become one of the potential stars of the tournament and he took full advantage of the opportunity he got following the injury that is still stifling Roberto Mancini's first choice, Marco Verratti.
That trust was paid off by the AC Milan academy dropout who is now in Sassuolo uniform by buying up two Italian winning goals in this match. Another goal was scored by Ciro Immobile.
After the match, Locatelli was chosen as the Star of the Match. However, his name became the subject of discussion because of his actions at the press conference session.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, the midfielder can be seen keeping a bottle of mineral water and shifting two Coca-Cola bottles on the table.
Judging by the look on his face, Locatelli had looked serious at first. But when he sat down, the 23-year-old then imitated Ronaldo by saying 'acqua' (Italian for 'water'). Then, he laughed.
Locatelli following Ronaldo’s footsteps. Coca Cola gonna be a meme at this point 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/gK5wCKGM1v
— Abduł (@Abdul999_) June 16, 2021
Previously, the Portuguese star shifted two bottles of Coca-Cola that were placed in front of him at a press conference ahead of Portugal's Euro 2020 match between Portugal and Hungary.
The Juventus player removed two soda bottles from the camera's view and took a bottle of water saying, "Drink water, not Coca-Cola". As one of the championship's biggest stars, demeaning sponsors must have angered UEFA officials.
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Locatelli, against Switzerland, opened the scoring for Italy in the 26th minute when he sprinted from midfield into the opposition penalty area to meet Domenico Berardi's cross with an easy flick.
He then doubled Italy's lead seven minutes into the second half with a clever shot from the edge of the box that left goalkeeper Yann Sommer couldn't move.
🇮🇹 🌟 A classy display from two-goal Star of the Match Manuel Locatelli 👏👏👏@Heineken | #EUROSOTM | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/AjDE6eeis5
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 16, 2021
Switzerland had a chance to hit back in the 64th minute when Steven Zuber forced goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into a brilliant save at the near post. The ball that was still alive tried to be sent by Zuber towards Breel Embolo, but Donnarumma immediately saved it.
The Swiss game that never developed was successfully used by Italy to save their energy. Even a minute before the dispersal of normal time Immobile completed the host's victory to be 3-0.
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