Italy strengthened their push for a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals after defeating Turkey 3-1 in Bologna on Monday.
Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and Francesco Pio Esposito were on target as Italy moved to seven points from four matches in Group A1, keeping them firmly in contention behind leaders France.
Scamacca opened the scoring in the 26th minute after Giovanni Di Lorenzo delivered a dangerous cross into the box.
The Atalanta forward controlled the loose ball before unleashing a powerful volley that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Turkey responded strongly after the interval and eventually drew level in the 61st minute.
Yunus Akgun found Zeki Celik, whose cross was flicked on by Eren Elmali for Aral Simsir to finish at the far post.
Italy restored their advantage just four minutes later when Calafiori rose to meet Nicolo Barella’s free-kick and headed the ball over goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
The goal was Calafiori’s first for the national team.
Turkey continued to threaten as they searched for another equaliser, but Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made an important save to deny Salih Ozcan.
Baris Alper Yilmaz also came close, but his attempted lob drifted wide.
Italy finally sealed the victory in the 87th minute when Francesco Pio Esposito converted from close range after Alessandro Romano’s low ball across the face of goal.
The victory extended Italy’s unbeaten run against Turkey to 16 matches, while Turkey remain bottom of Group A1 without a point and face the prospect of relegation to League B.
