After a Moise Kean brace helped Italy thrash Lithuania 5-0 in World Cup qualification on Wednesday, they set a new all-time record of 37 games without defeat.
With a 0-0 draw against Switzerland at Mapei Stadium, Roberto Mancini's side equaled Brazil's record set between 1993 and 1996, and the European champions moved clear of the Selecao. By halftime, Kean's double had put the game out of reach, sandwiched between an own goal by Edgaras Utkus and Giacomo Raspadori's first international goal. Early in the second half, Giovanni Di Lorenzo completed the scoring as the Azzurri moved to 14 points at the top of Group C, six points ahead of second-placed Switzerland.
Italy wasted no time in asserting their authority on the game, surging into a 2-0 lead after just 14 minutes, thanks to Mancini's men. After a clumsy pass from Arvydas Novikovas, Kean put them ahead with a clinical finish, before Utkus clumsily redirected Raspadori's 20-yard drive past Ernestas Setkus.
Raspadori of Sassuolo did open his international account after 24 minutes, blasting into the roof of the goal from six yards, and Kean of Juventus added another five minutes later, sliding home a magnificent volley from Federico Bernardeschi's lofted cross.
After admitting his players were "weary" after the draw with Switzerland, Mancini shuffled his pack, and his new-look starting XI was anything but sluggish during an enthralling first 45 minutes. After the break, they eased down, but the damage had been done against a hapless Lithuanian side who had already lost all five of their Group C games.
Kean added to his international total with two first-half goals, the second of which will have Juventus fans salivating at the idea of what he can achieve this season after a disastrous spell with Everton.
