Manuel Locatelli was the undisputed man of the match in Italy vs. Switzerland and La Gazzetta dello Sport joked about Marco Verratti: ‘Where will he play now?’
Locatelli scored a brace in the Azzurri’s 3-0 win over Switzerland, allowing them to reach the round of 16 with a game to spare.
Italy now have ten wins in a row and have kept just as many clean sheets in the process.
Locatelli replaced Marco Verratti in the first two games of the group stage of Euro 2020 and didn’t struggle to live up to expectations.
“There is only one problem, when will Verratti play when he returns?” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Joke aside, Italy have four starters in the middle. Two goals and a complete game from Locatelli.”
“His personality is increasing and you can see some plays that made the fortunes of Sassuolo, as it happened with the first goal,” wrote Tuttosport.
“His left-footed shot was lethal in the second half.”
Check Italy player ratings from Italian sport papers:
Gazzetta
Donnarumma 6.5; Di Lorenzo 7, Bonucci 7, Chiellini 6.5 (Acerbi 24 6.5), Spinazzola 7; Barella 6.5 (Cristante 86 N/A), Jorginho 7.5, Locatelli 8 (Pessina 86 N/A); Berardi 7 (Toloi 70 6), Immobile 6.5, Insigne 6 (Chiesa 70 6). CT. Mancini 7.5
Corriere dello Sport
Donnarumma 6.5; Di Lorenzo 7, Bonucci 7, Chiellini 6.5 (Acerbi 24 6.5), Spinazzola 7; Barella 6 (Cristante 86 N/A), Jorginho 8, Locatelli 9 (Pessina 86 N/A); Berardi 7.5 (Toloi 70 6.5), Immobile 7.5, Insigne 7.5 (Chiesa 70 6.5). CT. Mancini 8
Tuttosport
Donnarumma 7; Di Lorenzo 7, Bonucci 6.5, Chiellini 6 (Acerbi 24 6.5), Spinazzola 6.5; Barella 6.5 (Cristante 86 N/A), Jorginho 7, Locatelli 8.5 (Pessina 86 N/A); Berardi 7 (Toloi 70 6.5), Immobile 7.5, Insigne 6.5 (Chiesa 70 6). CT. Mancini 7.5