Italy have become the first nation to qualify from the group stages of U21 Euro 2013 with a resounding 4-0 victory over hosts Israel.
The Italians were 2-0 up at the break, with Riccardo Saponara and Manolo Gabbiadini finding the net in the first half.
Gabbiadini netted his second of the match after the interval, before Alessandro Florenzi completed the rout with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Find out how all the action unfolded with out minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the U21 Euro 2013 contest between hosts Israel and Italy. There's everything to play for in this Group A fixture, with both teams still more than capable of reaching the next phase.
There's just over half an hour to go until kickoff and both starting line-ups have been submitted, so we'll have those for you in a moment.
ITALY: Bardi, Donati, Bianchetti, Caldirola, Biraghi, Florenzi, Verratti, Saponara, Insigne, Immobile Gabbiadini
ISRAEL: Klaiman, Dasa, Vahaba, Twatha, Ben Harush, Biton, Kriaf, Kalibat, Golasa, Zaguri, Turgeman
One player to watch among Italy's starting XI is Lorenzo Insigne. The Napoli youngster caused England a world of problems in the Group A opener, dictating play from deep and terrorising the defence.
There's no place in the Italy line-up for Liverpool's Fabio Borini. He drops to the substitutes bench after leading the attack against England.
Mounes Dabour is a bright prospect for Israel, but he starts the evening on the bench too. The Maccabi Tel Aviv forward scored 10 goals in the Israeli premier league last season and is likely to feature as an impact player tonight.
There has been one match in Group A already this evening. A dismal England side crashed out of the tournament after going to 3-1 to Norway, who now top the group. You can read our match report on that game here.
Italy are the favourites this evening, and a win will guarantee them a spot in the next phase of the tournament. A draw here would see it go down to the wire.
The national anthems are under way now. The Italy starting XI are singing their hearts out. Full credit to the youngsters.
Israel's players have a good go at matching their opponent's gusto, but don't quite pull it off. Now let's play some football!
KICKOFF: Israel win the coin toss and get us under way. Just a reminder that this is a vital Group A fixture where both teams have a chance of making the next round.
Lorenzo Insigne whips in an early free kick, which clips Ben Vahaba on its way behind, earning Italy the first corner of the night. It goes begging, though.
Italy asking all of the questions in these early stages. Israel keeper Klaiman has had a few touches, but there have been no goalscoring opportunities as of yet. From the amount of possession the Italians have had, they won't be far away.
The hosts have begun to venture into the Italy half and apply some pressure of their own. Golsa surges forward but is quickly closed down, ending up in a heap on the ground for his efforts.
Superbly timed tackle by Bianchetti to deny Zaguri a goalscoring opportunity. He had to make it as he was the last man! Florenzi drags a shot wide at the other end moments later.
SAVE! Insigne shows exactly why he is such a hot prospect, getting the better of his marker and going for goal from the edge of the box. Klaiman saw it late and did really well to tip it around the post.
Dasa heads behind for a corner under pressure from Gabbiadini. A vital interception from the defender, timed just right. Italy would be a goal to the good had the striker gotten his head to that at the back post.
It's one-way traffic at the moment as Italy win another corner. Israel scramble the ball away once again. They look organised at the back, their defenders clearing their lines well. Italy's passing has been nothing short of sublime.
GOAL! Italy 1-0 Israel (Saponara)
A superb move by the Italians gives them the lead. Insigne plays a long ball into the box that finds Immobile, and his first-time pass is perfect for Saponara to smash into the bottom corner.
CHANCE! Kalibat surges into the Italy box, running rings around the defence. He squares it to Turgeman, but catches his teammate off guard, causing him to miskick from just yards out. I think Turgeman was expecting him to go for goal himself. A let off for the Italians.
Italy look a cut above their opponents this evening, but Israel have caused them some problems. Turgeman looks capable of hurting them if they keep giving him space inside the box.
Both sides have had a tendency to give the ball away on occasion tonight. There are certainly more goals in this one, with who scores next likely to be decisive.
CHANCE! Immobile exchanges passes with Verratti and goes for goal from just inside the box, his effort cannoning off a white shirt and going behind for a corner. Israel deal with the danger, and the ball is now with their keeper Klaiman.
CHANCE! It's Klaiman to the rescue as Saponara cuts inside on the right and bears down on goal. The Israeli keeper pulls off a save at his near post, parrying Saponara's effort for his rear guard to clear.
Israel win a free kick deep in the Italian half, just over 30 yards from goal. Kalibat plays a ball over the top, but Zaguri's first touch is poor. The ball deflects off him and goes behind for a goal kick.
Italy very much on top in this game, but the host nation have caused them some problems, and look like they will punish them if they let their composure slip. The Italians certainly need another goal to kill off their opponents, and they have plenty of additional fire power on the bench.
RED CARD! Israel are reduced to 10 men as Golasa is given his marching orders for a two-footed tackle on Saponara. There referee was convinced there was malice in that. I'm not sure that is necessarily the case, but you can't go in two-footed like that.
The Israelis are reeling at the moment, struggling to adjust to a new shape in the absence of Golasa. Insigne has just gone off injured for Italy. They have brought on Rossi in his place.
GOAL! Italy 2-0 Israel (Gabbiadini)
The visitors double their lead through Gabbiadini, who rifles a low shot into the net after latching on to Immobile's pass. A wonderful move from Italy, but I think Klaiman should have got a hand to that.
There will be one minute of stoppage time to be added. I imagine the Israelis are looking forward to the end of the first period. It has gone from bad to worse for them in these last 10 minutes.
HALF TIME: Italy 2-0 Israel
Italy lead the host nation 2-0 at the interval, and you have to say they deserve it. A couple of superb strikes from Riccardo Saponara and Manolo Gabbiadini are the difference between the two sides, putting Devis Mangia's men on the brink of the next phase of the competition.
Saponara gave Israel a mountain to climb with less than 20 minutes on the clock when they broke the deadlock, but they now have Everest to scale after being reduced to 10 men and falling further behind.
Golasa had to go for that two-footed tackle, but his coach Guy Luzon apparently doesn't see it that way. He was seen giving the officials some grief as the teams made their way into the dugout.
Italy will be through if the result remains the same, while Israel would sit just above England in third. They wouldn't be eliminated mathematically, but would have to pull off something special against Stuart Pearce's side to stand any chance of progression.
KICK OFF The second half is under way now.
Israel made a change a half time, bringing on Verta for Dasa. Verta is a centre-back, so expect him to have his hands full as Italy look to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
Italy maintaining possession with confidence in the opening stages of the second period. Ben Harush brings down Gabbiadini and gives away a free kick.
Half-chance for Italy as Verratti drags an effort wide of the post. I'm anticipating one-way traffic for the remainder of this contest, for the most part at least.
GOAL! Italy 3-0 Israel (Gabbiadini)
Gabbiadini doubles his tally for the evening, blasting a free kick into the bottom corner from 19 metres out. That one was a result of Israel's indiscipline, coming out of a Twatha foul on Florenzi. Clinical strike from the Juventus youngster, though.
There will be no opportunity for Gabbiadini to complete his hattrick. He is substituted for Destro. Israel actually had the ball in the net moments before Italy's change, but Turgeman's strike was ruled out for offside.
CHANCE! Saponara gets away from his marker with a deft turn inside the box, but his low finish is lacking, failing to trouble Klaiman between the Israel sticks. Verratti is booked for a late challenge moments later.
Verratti is brought down, resulting in another free kick in the danger zone. Italy have already proven that they are lethal from set pieces. What can they make of this one?
Lozenzi sends a ball over the top to his Roma teammate Destro, but his first touch lets him down, resulting in a goalkick to their opponents.
Destro and Immobile plays a neat one-two inside the box, but they are surrounded by a sea of white shirts and the Israel defence eventually clears its lines.
Israel make another change, bringing on Barouch for Turgeman in a like-for-like switch. They now have a more physical presence up front, though their chances of getting back in to this one are slim to none.
Another Italy sub now as Sansone replaces Verratti. He had already picked up a booking, so Mangia is playing it safe.
GOAL! Italy 4-0 Israel (Florenzi)
There is an element of fortune about Italy's fourth goal. Florenzi latches on to a loose ball, nutmegs Vahaba and bundles a shot beneath Klaiman to put his side even further in front. This is getting embarrassing!
With fifteen minutes to go plus stoppage time, I wouldn't bet against Italy scoring even more tonight. The match stats tell the whole story - Italy have had 15 shots on goal to Israel's one.
Italy have a spot of defending to do as Verta and Barouch surge forward, but the move grounds to a halt as the linesman raises his flag.
Italy holding onto possession now, yet there is no urgency to their football. They are stringing together passes with confidence and waiting for the clock to run down.
Israel make their final change as midfielder Azam comes on for Kalibat. The stadium is beginning to empty out now, the home faithful leaving bitterly disappointed. And who can blame them? They've seen their side stage one attack all evening.
Donati concedes a corner under pressure from Harush. The home support almost has something to cheer as Harush volleys wide of the target.
Italy have been a different class to their opposition tonight. Even if the host national had held on to their 11 men, they were always facing an uphill struggle. I think Italy are strong contenders to go on and win the competition.
Two minutes of stoppage time to be played. Israel's troubled evening is soon to be over!
Italy put their opponents under late pressure as Vahaba is forced to make a vital challenge to prevent Florenzi from going clean through on goal. He concedes a corner, but I don't think there is time for Italy to take it...
FULL TIME: Italy 4-0 Israel
Italy with a resounding win over the host nation that put them into the next round of the competition. Israel are as good as out. They need to defeat England in their final game and hope that Norway lose, but there needs to be a six-goal swing in there too.
You can read our full match report here.
That's all from me this evening. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for this U21 Euro 2013 clash.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
Spain U21s
