3 things you need to know from Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifying action

The first matchday of Euro 2016 qualifying came to a close on Tuesday with 16 teams taking part in eight fixtures. Italy looked a far better squad than they did at the World Cup and emerged with three points at the Ullevaal Stadion, Czech Republic capitalized on a massive defensive error by Daryl Janmaat at the Stadion Letna, and Gareth Bale stepped up to ensure Wales avoided embarrassment at the Camp d'Esports del M.I. Consell General.

Here are three things you need to know from Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifying action:

Simone Zaza shines as Italy drop Norway

Antonio Conte's competitive debut as Italy manager got off to a resounding start on Tuesday as a bearded Italy squad had little trouble disposing of Norway, earning all three available points from the fixture with a 2-0 away win.

The convincing performance was headlined by 23-year-old Sassuolo forward Simone Zaza, who was earning only his second cap for the Azzurri after making his international debut in Italy's 2-0 friendly victory over the Netherlands last week.

Zaza opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a deflected left-footed strike and was unlucky not to register another goal in the second half after firing a shot off the woodwork and subsequently seeing a remarkable individual effort cleared off the goal line.

Assuming Conte sticks with his preferred 3-5-2 formation for the foreseeable future, Zaza looks to be the logical candidate to start alongside Mario Balotelli upfront.

Also, the result means that Italy have accomplished something they've been unable to do in 77 years.

Disastrous error by Daryl Janmaat hands Czech Republic 2-1 win

Tuesday was not a good day for Daryl Janmaat.

Playing as the right wing-back in the Netherlands' 5-3-2 formation, Janmaat made a costly decision in the 91st minute that allowed Czech Republic's Vaclav Pilar to slot home the winning goal and give the home side a stunning 2-1 win over the World Cup semifinalists.

But while it's easy to single out Janmaat as the reason why the Netherlands lost their opening match of a qualifying campaign for the first time since 1992, Borek Dockal's surreal left-footed half-volley in the 22nd minute shouldn't be forgotten. It was a thing of beauty.

They're surely missing Louis Van Gaal in the Netherlands right now.

Gareth Bale bails out Wales

Wales' Euro 2016 qualifying campaign nearly got off to an unimaginable start.

Only six minutes into their fixture away to Andorra, a principality with a population of under 80,000, Wales found themselves trailing 1-0 when Ildefons Lima converted from the penalty spot.

Simply put, Andorra are not a squad that a Gareth Bale-led Wales side should be losing to under any circumstances.

Unfortunately for Lima, who became Andorra's all-time leading scorer by notching his fourth international goal on Tuesday, Wales escaped with a narrow 2-1 win courtesy of two goals from Bale. The Real Madrid superstar levelled the score with an excellent header in the 22nd minute and went on to score the winner with a remarkable free kick with under 10 minutes remaining in regulation time.

[Courtesy: Reddit user "TomasRoncero"]