Manuel Locatelli timed his run into the Italy team almost as well as he timed his run for the Azzurri’s opening goal against Switzerland on Wednesday.

The midfielder swept a volleyed pass out to the right wing to Domenico Berardi, before racing half the length of the pitch to get on the end of his Sassuolo teammate’s cross and fire home.

Locatelli followed that up with a superb left-footed strike from the edge of the box in the second half to top off a night in which he announced himself to a global audience.

Ciro Immobile added a late third as the Azzurris recorded their second consecutive 3-0 win at Euro 2020.

Italy are the first to secure guaranteed progression to the round of 16 and, on the basis of this display, will have high hopes of going the distance, stretching their unbeaten run to 29 matches. Remarkably, they have not conceded in 965 minutes.

Asked if Italy were at the same level as the tournament favourites, France, Roberto Mancini, the Italy manager, downplayed their chances. “There’s France, there’s Portugal, there’s Belgium,” he said. “These are teams that have been built over a number of years and, it’s only natural, they’re further along than us in terms of their development, but everything can happen in the world of football.”

It sure can as young Locatelli will agree. The 23-year-old has benefited the most from the Euros being postponed by a year. The midfielder earned his first Italy cap in September last year, after the tournament was originally scheduled to take place.

Locatelli, who won the “star of the match” award, has now given Mancini a selection conundrum — he has Jorginho — his midfield pivot, Nicolo Barella and Marco Verratti to choose from. And Locatelli, of course.

As far as problems go for managers, it is a most welcome one for Mancini to have.

Written with agency inputs