Euro 2016:Italy were the better side- Courtois

The Belgium goalkeeper was helpless to prevent his side falling to a 2-0 defeat to Italy in their opening Euro 2016 match in Group E

B elgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois admitted that his side were no match for Italy , as the Azzurri romped to a 2-0 win in their Euro 2016 opener on Monday evening.

Despite going into the match as favourites, Belgium could only muster a single shot on target and fell to strikes from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle, as Antonio Conte’s team went top of the group.

Following the defeat, the Belgian shot-stopper conceded that the Euro 2012 finalists had set themselves up better to secure all three points, although dismissed suggestions that the pressure had affected the Red Devils.

“Tactically we were outclassed by Italy,” Courtois told RTBF at the final whistle of the game in Lyon. “They were much more organised than us.

“We made these same mistakes in our recent friendlies and we did not track Italy’s runners from midfield. The pressure didn’t get to us, we were ready. We just made a mistake for the first goal.”

The defeat leaves Belgium rooted to the bottom of the group after the opening round of fixtures, with fellow opponents Sweden and Republic of Ireland sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw earlier in the day.

The Chelsea goalkeeper demanded that Belgium pick themselves up for their encounter against the Irish to give themselves a hope of getting through to the next round.

“On Saturday against Ireland we must win. We have to be more effective in the next match,” the 24-year-old concluded.

Belgium will take on Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux, before facing Sweden next Wednesday in Nice