Euro 2020 first match, Turkey vs Italy: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

Turkey vs Italy euro 2020 2021 what time kick-off tonight tv channel odds prediction - AP
Turkey vs Italy euro 2020 2021 what time kick-off tonight tv channel odds prediction - AP
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Euro 2020 will finally get under way - a year later than planned - with this fixture between Italy and Turkey in Rome. These sides are in Group A in the tournament along with Switzerland and Wales and will both be hoping to continue their fine form from qualifying in the competition proper.

When is Turkey vs Italy?

The Euro 2020 game takes place on Friday, June 11 at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

What time is kick-off?

The match will start at 8pm BST.

What TV channel is it on?

Turkey vs Italy will be broadcast on BBC, with BBC and ITV sharing the rights for the tournament.

See the full Euro 2020 TV channel schedule

What is the latest team news?

Italy

With just a day to go until their tournament opener Italy have been hit by the news Lorenzo Pellegrini won't be fit for both Friday's opener and the tournament. Roberto Mancini's side have asked UEFA for permission to replace the Roma midfielder with Fiorentina's Gaetano Castrovilli in their squad after he picked up an injury, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Thursday.

Pellegrini was struggling for fitness ahead of the tournament but earned a place in Roberto Mancini's 26-man squad, only to re-aggravate an injury to his left thigh that kept him out of two recent warm-up games. Teams can replace injured players in their 26-man squads until 24 hours before kickoff of their opening game; and injured goalkeepers at any time.

"The FIGC has submitted a request to UEFA surrounding the possibility of replacing Lorenzo Pellegrini, who, in training yesterday, picked up an injury," read a FIGC statement.

"He was taken for a scan this morning and will nonetheless remain part of the group, which will travel to Rome this morning. In anticipation of an answer from UEFA, Gaetano Castrovilli will join up with the group in Rome.”

Another player to miss out will be Marco Verratti. The key midfielder will miss out with a knee injury but hopes to be back in time for Italy's second game, against Switzerland. Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli is likely to start in his place.

Earlier, Mancini named Sassuolo’s uncapped striker Giacomo Raspadori in his final 26-man Italy squad, but there was no room for AS Roma defender Gianluca Mancini, Atalanta midfielder Matteo Pessina or Napoli winger Matteo Politano.

Raspadori will provide competition for Lazio’s Ciro Immobile and Torino’s Andrea Belotti for the striker spot after a breakout season in which the 21-year-old scored six goals in 27 Serie A games.

Italy manager Mancini cut his preliminary group of 33 players down to 28 on Sunday, when Paris St Germain striker Moise Kean was the highest-profile casualty.

Turkey

Turkey are not a team to be taken lightly and a look at their likely line-up explains why.

Senol Gunes’ side took four points from two games against world champions France in Euros qualifying and have since beaten the Netherlands 4-2 in a World Cup qualifier and earned 3-3 friendly draws with Germany and Croatia.

Contrary to what those goal-filled games suggest, Turkey’s biggest strength is a defence that conceded three goals in 10 qualifiers, marshalled by centre-backs Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester and Juventus' Merih Demiral.

They are likely to form the bedrock of a dogged defence that can be tough to break down. Gunes led Turkey to a superb third-place finish at the 2002 World Cup. Any hopes of achieving a similar feat this summer could depend on continuing that solidity.

But there are threats at the other end of the pitch, too. AC Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu will be more than familiar with his opponents in Rome, while 35-year-old striker Burak Yilmaz recently fired Lille to the Ligue 1 title alongside national team-mates Zeki Celik and Yusuf Yazici.

Dutch referee Danny Makkelie has been tasked with officiating in the high-profile match.

What have we said about Euro 2020?

Euro 2020 sweepstake kit: Download yours for free ahead of the tournament

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Euro 2020 calendar: print yours for free ​

​Euro 2020 fixtures list, match dates and kick-off times

What are the latest odds?

  • Turkey to win: 6/1

  • Italy to win: 1/2

  • Draw: 3/1

View the latest Euro 2020 betting offers

What's our prediction?

Turkey qualified impressively behind France and only conceded three times in their 10 qualifying games (losing just once), so they are clearly a tough side to break down. But Italy's form in qualifying under Mancini was flawless...10 games, 10 wins, with 37 goals scored and just four conceded. They have just that little bit more quality across the field and are backed to triumph in what could well be a tight game.

Predicted score: Turkey 0 Italy 2

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