Defending Champions Italy Bow Out of Euro 2024.
Italy’s defence of their Euro 2024 title ended in disappointment as they were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Luciano Spalletti’s side failed to replicate the resilience shown in their comeback draw against Croatia, exiting the tournament with a lacklustre performance.
Former England striker Gary Lineker described the team as the worst Italian side he had seen, echoing the sentiments of many fans and pundits. Italy, who won the World Cup at the same venue in 2006 and the European Championship in 2021, looked a shadow of their former selves.
The match saw Nasiru Salisu’s penalty saved in the ninth minute, but he redeemed himself by giving Switzerland the lead two minutes after the half-hour mark. Salisu doubled the lead 15 minutes from time, securing Switzerland’s place in the quarter-finals and casting further doubt on Italy’s future.
Despite featuring talented players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Nicolo Barella, and Federico Chiesa, the team lacked the character and intensity seen in previous Italian squads. The absence of iconic figures like Andrea Pirlo, Marco Materazzi, Leonardo Bonucci, and Giorgio Chiellini was palpable.
Spalletti, who took over from Roberto Mancini last year, acknowledged the team’s shortcomings. “The team were timid in terms of the intensity of the game,” he said. “We didn’t do a good job, we weren’t able to maintain a high level of intensity.”
With only ten games to prepare the squad, Spalletti struggled to instil the high-intensity, attacking football that characterised his Napoli side’s title-winning campaign last season. The loss to Switzerland leaves questions about his future as Italy’s head coach.
BBC pundit Rio Ferdinand labelled Italy’s performance as “shambolic,” while former England captain Alan Shearer was shocked by their lack of threat in front of goal. The Italian fans, who once celebrated Maradona-inspired triumphs, now face an uncertain future.
Despite the criticism, Spalletti remains defiant. “I have the responsibility for what has happened. I picked the players, and of course this is part of a process where I need to get to know players,” he said.
As Italy looks to rebuild, Switzerland’s victory marks them as potential dark horses of the tournament, having outplayed the defending champions to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
