Watch: Giaccherini, Pelle give Italy a 2-0 win over Belgium in Euro 2016

Belgium entered Euro 2016 as the top-ranked team on the continent–according to FIFA, anyhow–but it begins its tournament quest trying to climb out of a group deficit.

Italy's Emanuelle Giaccherini put Belgium in an early hole and Graziano Pelle finished off a 2-0 victory for the Azzurri in their Euro 2016 opener in Lyon Monday.

Giaccherini finished off a sublime pass from Leonardo Bonucci at the midfield line, displaying a great first touch, winding up and putting his right-footed shot low and inside the far post to beat Thibaut Courtois.

Much has been made of Italy's attack and dearth of finishers going up against the high-octane Belgium attack that features Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, but it was the Azzurri that started out in front with this excellent finish.

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The lead allowed Italy to do what it does best–defend. Lukaku had Belgium's best opportunity to equalize off a well-executed counterattack, but his touch let him down, he appeared to slip and then put his lob attempt just wide of the upper right-hand corner:

Lukaku's replacement, Divock Origi, also had a great chance, putting his header off De Bruyne's cross from the left over the bar:

Italy finished off the match in stoppage time. Graziano Pelle, who missed a couple of earlier chances, hit a clinical side volley off an unselfish set-up from Antonio Candreva to make it 2-0.

Italy and Belgium will each play Sweden and Ireland in their remaining group matches.