Euro 2022: France shuts down Italy with demolition signal
The French started their campaign at the 2022 European Championships on Sunday night when they beat Italy 5-1 in their opening match in Group D.
All five of their goals came in a one-sided first half at Rotherham’s New York Stadium where Grace Geyoro helped with a hat-trick.
Earlier in the day, Belgium and Iceland were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in a fun competition in Manchester.
Here, the PA news agency looks at Sunday’s events at the tournament.
After seeing men like England, Spain and Germany open with victories, France, another favorite of the tournament, set their own goal in a strong way.
Geyoro celebrated their 50th national game in style by opening the scoring against the unlucky Italians just nine minutes before Marie-Antoinette Katoto doubled the lead three minutes later.
Delphine Cascarino added a third goal with a superb long-range shot in the 38th minute before Geyoro scored another two in a row before the break.
The French reduced the fuel supply in the second half and Martina Piemonte demanded consolation for Italy with a header 14 minutes before the end of the game. Italy got Sara Gama sent off after a careless challenge but her red card was overturned by a VAR audit.
Iceland and Belgium drew 1-1 at Academy Stadium Manchester City in the other game of the group after Berglind Þorvaldsdóttir’s header was awarded a penalty by Justine Vanhaevermaet.
Þorvaldsdóttir made up for a mistake from a penalty kick in the first half when she scored five minutes after the break by bringing a pass from Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir.
Þorvaldsdóttir had previously shot slowly at goalkeeper Nicky Evrard from the point after handball by Davina Philtjens.
Belgium secured points in a fun competition when Reading player Vanhaevermaet came in from 12 meters after a foul on Elena Dhont.
The choice of the Academy Stadium, which seats 4,400 people at the tournament, had attracted criticism from Iceland for the competition, but what was missing from the stadium was added to the atmosphere.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the Prime Minister of Iceland, was one of those who took part in the celebration and was in the picture enjoying it. Roberto Martinez, Belgium’s football manager, was also in the audience.
July 11th
Group A: Austria – Northern Ireland (17:00, St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton)
Group A: England – Norway (20:00, Amex Stadium, Brighton)