Mick Gavin’s Italy side proved too strong for Wales on Sunday night in the ElectroCity FIFA 20 European Championships.
With Switzerland and Turkey playing out a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, the pressure was on Italy to deliver with Wales needing to overcome a huge goal deficit to have any chance of finishing third.
Interim manager Ken McGuire did what he could with the Welshmen but Italy were ruthless in the first half, building up a 3-0 lead before finishing out the game 4-1 to book their place in the knockout stages.
Italy were unlucky not to open their account earlier in the game, Immobile rattling the right post (5) from the edge of the area, rolling across the line to bounce off the left upright and cleared off the line by Lockyer.
Tonali too went close, a right footed strike from the edge of the area palmed away by Wayne Hennessy at full stretch (18).
Immobile again was lurking in the danger area (23), his close range effort parried into the path of El Shaarawy to open the scoring for the Italians with a cool left-footed half volley off the rebound.
Politano set up Jorginho for Italy’s second, carving open the Welsh defence by cutting back to the spot, the Chelsea vice-captain smashing home from close range (28).
Wales were in danger of losing the run of the game entirely when Immobile broke clear of the chasing pack (40) to rifle home past Hennessy’s left side and leave the sides at 3-0 heading into the break.
Gareth Bale went close for Wales early in the second half, the Madrid man not able to keep his header down and ultimately flagged offside.
Ten minutes in, Insigne hits the post with the close range header (54), the Welsh clearance landing at Jorginho’s feet who let fly from 20 yards out only to crack the crossbar, Hennessy beaten all ends up.
Tonali eventually took control, slotted to El Sharaawy to fire home for his second and Italy’s fourth, clipping the underside of the crossbar in the process (55).
Bale’s best contribution was a through ball to Tom Lawrence, Lawrence losing the ball in the box to Donnarumma in the Italian goal, only to nick the ball back from the ‘keeper and bag a late consolation goal for the Welsh (89).
Final score, 4-1.
