Italy qualifies for Euro 2020 with 2-0 win over Greece

Italy overcame Greece's defensive tactics for a 2-0 win Saturday and qualified for the European Championship, ensuring the Azzurri will play in the tournament's opening match in Rome next June.

Brazilian-born midfielder Jorginho converted a penalty after the hour mark after a blatant handball by Andreas Bouchalakis. Then substitute Federico Bernardeschi scored from outside the area with a low, bouncing shot that was deflected.

Roberto Mancini's squad extended its perfect record in Group J to seven wins in seven matches — a sharp contrast from when Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup following a playoff loss to Sweden nearly two years ago.

Italy's Frederico Bernardeschi, right celebrates with teammates after scoring his side second gaol during the Euro 2020 group J qualifying soccer match between Italy and Greece in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

With three qualifiers remaining, Italy has a full 21 points, nine more than second-place Finland. Greece, which has five points, had already lost hope of qualifying.

There were nearly 60,000 fans at the Stadio Olimpico in anticipation of the qualifying celebration but they were kept quiet for much of the night as Greece defended in large numbers.

The visitors produced the only shot on goal of the first half while Italy was temporarily playing with 10 men due to a knock to left back Danilo D'Ambrosio. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a one-handed reflex save on a dangerous effort from Dimitris Limnios.

Italy's Jorginho shoots and scores the opening goal of the game from the penalty spot during the Euro 2020 group J qualifying soccer match between Italy and Greece in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

Things got worse for Italy when winger Federico Chiesa, perhaps the Azzurri's best performer over the course of qualifying, limped off before the break with an apparent thigh issue. Chiesa was replaced by Bernardeschi.

Italy began to threaten more after the break and earned a penalty when Bouchalakis stuck out his arm to block a shot from Lorenzo Insigne that appeared on target.

Jorginho, who holds dual citizenship, sent goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis the wrong way after a nervous buildup to the spot kick as the referee took his time putting the players in order.

Italy's Jorginho celebrates after he scores the opening goal of the game from the penalty spot during the Euro 2020 group J qualifying soccer match between Italy and Greece in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

Fifteen minutes later, Bernardeschi took a pass from captain Leonardo Bonucci and scored his first Italy goal in more than a year.

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Italy's Jorginho celebrates after he scores the opening goal of the game from the penalty spot during the Euro 2020 group J qualifying soccer match between Italy and Greece in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

Italy's Jorginho, (8), celebrates with teammates after he scores the opening goal of the game from the penalty spot during the Euro 2020 group J qualifying soccer match between Italy and Greece in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

Greece's goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis flies through the air after he punches the ball clear as Italy's Lorenzo Pellegrini looks on during the Euro 2020 group J qualifying soccer match between Italy and Greece in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

Italy coach Roberto Mancini gestures to his players during the Euro 2020 group J qualifying soccer match between Italy and Greece in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP PhotoAlessandra Tarantino)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Get ready for the 2026 Australian Open with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the season on TV, who the defending champions are, what the schedule is and more:

Singles play begins next Sunday at 11 a.m. local time (7 p.m. Saturday EST) around the grounds, with the first match in Rod Laver Arena scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. (7:30 p.m. Saturday EST).

— In the U.S.: ESPN and Tennis Channel

— Other countries are listed here

Madison Keys of the United States and Jannick Sinner of Italy won the 2025 singles trophies. Keys beat the No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 for her first Grand Slam trophy. Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 to successfully defend his title at Melbourne Park.

Sabalenka will be the top-seeded woman and Carlos Alcaraz the top-seeded man. They currently are ranked No. 1, and the tournament seedings usually follow the WTA and ATP rankings.

The Australian Open is played outdoors on hard courts at Melbourne Park, located along the Yarra River near downtown Melbourne. There are retractable roofs at Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena. Women play best-of-three-set matches with a first-to-10 tiebreaker at 6-all in the third; men play best-of-five with a tiebreaker at 6-all in the fifth. Like at the U.S. Open and French Open, there are night sessions. The tournament is staged each year around the last two weeks of January, during the school summer holidays Down Under.

The Australian Open is introducing “opening week” where the Melbourne Park precinct will be open to the public from the start of the qualifying tournament, and live music will be staged every night at Grand Slam Oval. Fans can watch open practice sesions in Rod Laver Arena to see some of the sport's biggest names preparing for the first major of the year. Organizers are also expanding the so-called 1 Point Slam in opening week, where 22 professional players and 10 amateurs get the chance to play for 1 million Australian dollars in prize money.

First round of qualifying for the men's and women's singles.

— Jan. 18-19-20: First Round (Women and Men)

— Jan. 21-22: Second Round (Women and Men)

— Jan. 23-24: Third Round (Women and Men)

— Jan. 25-26: Fourth Round (Women and Men)

— Jan. 27-28: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)

— Jan. 29: Women’s Semifinals

— Jan. 30: Men’s Semifinals

— Jan. 31: Women’s Final

— Feb. 1: Men’s Final

— Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka describes the season schedule as “insane.”

— Coco Gauff adds some context on the “worst” fans

— Novak Djokovic is cutting ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association

— Venus Williams gets a wildcard entry for the Australian Open, at age 45

— Carlos Alcaraz ends his 7-year partnership with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

— The ATP is adding a heat rule like the one the women have had for 30 years

— Nick Kyrgios will do doubles time, but won't play singles at the Australian Open

Australian Open prize money has increased by 16% on last year to a record total in local currency of 111.5 million Australian dollars (US$75 million). That was up from 96.5 million Australian dollars in 2025. The women’s and men’s singles champions will win 4.15 million Australian dollars ($2.8 million), a 19% increase on last year.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus waves to the crowd after winning the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)