Manuel Locatelli is the third Italy player to score a brace in the Euros and the first since Mario Balotelli’s two goals against Germany in 2012.
The Sassuolo star scored on either side of the break to give Italy a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in the second round of Euro 2020 and is thus the third player to ever score a brace in the European Championship for the Azzurri.
Roberto Mancini’s men continue their dominance in Group A with a convincing performance against the Swiss, with Locatelli running the show on Wednesday night.
Locatelli started and finished a brilliant attack in the 26th minute, combining with his Sassuolo teammate Domenico Berardi for the first goal.
His second, in the 52nd minute, was a neat finish from outside the area, past a hapless Yann Sommer in the Switzerland goal.
The 23-year-old then became the first player to score a brace in the European Championship for Italy since Balotelli scored two in a 2-1 win over Germany in 2012.
Pierluigi Casiraghi is the third player to have scored twice in one European Championship match, when he scored both in a 2-1 win over Russia in 1996.
“It’s a goal that will be remembered forever in the Eternal City.” 🤩#ITA have two, Locatelli has two – and that’s a fine way to cap a special team move 👌#ITASUI | #ITVFootball | #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/qR1GsBZ7t4
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 16, 2021
🎯 Spread the ball out wide
💨 Sprint half the length of the pitch
⚽️ Tap home from close rangeA lesson in perfect midfield play, courtesy of Manuel Locatelli 😎#ITASUI | #ITVFootball | #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/Vk54Ya1AYG
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 16, 2021
2️⃣ – Manuel Locatelli is the 3rd player to score a brace for 🇮🇹Italy in a EURO game, after Mario Balotelli against Germany in 2012 (2-1 win) and Pierluigi Casiraghi against Russia in 1996 (2-1 win). #EURO2020 #ITASUI
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) June 16, 2021