Defending champions Italy CRASH out of Euro 2024 as Ruben Vargas stunner inspires Switzerland to 2-0 win to book potential quarter-final with England
- Switzerland beat Italy 2-0 in the Euro 2024 last-16 encounter in Berlin
- Goals from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas sealed a dominant Swiss victory
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Italy’s reign as European champions is over. Brought to a bitter end in Berlin where they went down feebly to the sound of Switzerland’s incessant drumming and celebratory cowbells.
Luciano Spalletti’s team were never really in it. They couldn’t get the ball for the first hour by which time the Swiss were two goals up. In fact, the Azzurri only started to enjoy any possession in the last half hour because the Swiss let them.
They dropped deep and defended the edge of their penalty area and saw the game out with little alarm and will move onto Dusseldorf where they will face England or Slovakia, and they will offer a much greater threat then Italy.
Murat Yakin’s team are beautifully balanced. The back three is solid, experienced and brilliantly organised by Manuel Akanji. They have pace and movement up front, and they have Granit Xhaka on the crest of a wave.
Xhaka is playing with incredible confidence after a triumphant season at Bayer Leverkusen, as if he can see the pitch from above and knows where everyone is moving and when.
Switzerland are through to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after beating Italy 2-0 in Berlin
Reigning champions Italy crashed out of Euro 2024 after being comfortably beaten
Ruben Vargas scored a brilliant second goal to deal a deadly blow to Italy's Euro 2024 hopes
Luciano Spalletti's (left) first bow at a major tournament with Italy ends in a last-16 elimination
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Switzerland have landed a few blows on neighbours. Two draws in qualifying helped to keep Italy out of the last World Cup but this is the first time they have beaten them for 31 years. When they did it last, Roy Hodgson was in charge.
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Italy’s return to Berlin’s Olympic Stadium where they won the World Cup in 2006, did not get off to a good start against Switzerland, who seized control early and dominated the first half. Xhaka orchestrated everything from the centre midfield with pace and movement ahead causing problems for the defending champions.
Spalletti is still searching for balance. His team spluttered through their opening three games of the tournament and here he made six changes. They did not look comfortable as they chased the ball on a stiflingly hot day in the German capital and were grateful to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for keeping them level, midway through the first half.
Breel Embolo burst clear onto a pass by Michel Aebischer from his position as a left wing back but could not beat Donnarumma, who made a fine reaction save diving to his left. The relief was brief, however, and the Swiss soon had the goal they deserved.
Dan Ndoye, whose pace up front caused Germany problems, started this game as the wing back on the right as Murat Yakin reshuffled with Silvan Widmer banned. It was Ndoye’s run from right to left which dragged the Italian defence out of shape.
When Ruben Vargas collected his pass and jinked inside, Freuler had identified the opportunity and charged forward. His first touch was not perfect. The ball spun up, high above his head, but he was in such space there was time to wait for the ball to drop.
As it neared the turf, Freuler lashed it on the volley with his left boot with enough power to leave Donnarumma helpless. Italy have conceded first in in all four of their games at Euro 2024.
Fabian Rieder almost caught out Donnarumma before the interval from a free kick wide on the right, whipped in with his left foot towards near post. Italy’s goalkeeper, expecting a cross, recovered in time to scramble back and push the effort against the frame of the goal and out for a corner.
Switzerland are through to the quarter-finals where they could play England in the next round
Remo Freuler opened the scoring with Switzerland's first goal at the end of a brilliant attacking move
Switzerland head coach Murat Yakiz (left) celebrated with his players at full-time
Spalletti tried to shake his team into life with a half-time change, sending on Mattia Zaccagni, scorer of the 98th-minute equaliser against Croatia to book the ticket to Berlin, but Switzerland scored again less than a minute into the second half.
Again, they were overloading in wide areas with wingbacks advanced and forward runs from midfield and this time it was Vargas with the time to pick a wonderful finish curled with his right foot beyond Donnarumma into the top corner.
Italy struggled to breakdown Switzerland during the disappointing knockout defeat
Switzerland's defenders effectively managed the threat of Italy's attacking talents
Two up, the Swiss dropped deeper and almost helped Italy back into the contest when Fabian Schar headed a harmless long ball past his own goalkeeper Yann Sommer and onto a post. Sommer had yet to make a save but this was an escape.
Spalletti made changes and sent on more forwards. The Azzurri started to dominate possession with their opponents happy to let them have the ball in the midfield third of the pitch and play almost exclusively on the counterattack.
Mateo Retegui forced Sommer to make his first save of the game the 73rd minute with a rather hopeful effort from outside the penalty area. It did not extend the goalkeeper. Gianluca Scamacca then turned a cross against a post.
There was no flag, but he was offside, and he finished like he knew it. There would be no late salvation on this occasion. Italy head for home, well beaten. Their title lost. Switzerland can lie back and think of England. Or Slovakia.