Velvety Verratti adds a sprinkling of magic to make Italy the team to fear | Barney Ronay


Returning midfielder added A-list class to the tournament’s standout team as they secured top spot against Wales

Well, that was tense. Kind of. On a gruelling afternoon in Rome Wales qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2020. Thanks to the vagaries of the format they did so through a shifting fog of almost-drama, a whirl of semi-excitement, as Group A did its best to conjure some genuine final-round tension out of Uefa’s self-own of a 24-team Euros.

Not that anyone in red cared. It is now two out of two for Wales: two European Championships and two knockout-stage runs, a wonderful achievement for this high-craft, brilliantly likable generation of players and for the caretaker manager, Robert Page.

Related: Matteo Pessina ensures Italy top group but 10-man Wales go through in second

Related: Robert Page warns Euro 2020 rivals not to underestimate his Wales side

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