(CTN News) – Switzerland eliminated reigning champions Italy from Euro 2024 with a surprise 2-0 victory on Saturday, reaching the quarterfinals for the second time in their history.
Murat Yakin’s incredibly well-drilled side defeated the flat two-time winners in the last 16 battle in Berlin, and they will face England or Slovakia in the next round.
Ruben Vargas set up Remo Freuler for Switzerland’s opening goal in the 37th minute, before curling home beautifully at the start of the second half to extend their lead.
A new look. Italy, lacking star power and missing several of the key players that propelled them to Euro 2020 glory, provided little in response to Switzerland’s spirited display.
Granit Xhaka, a former Arsenal midfielder who arrived at the Euros after a brilliant season with German winners Bayer Leverkusen, pulled the reins as Switzerland rarely looked like losing the lead.
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti dismissed Jorginho following his disappointing group-stage performances, replacing him with Nicolo Fagioli in defensive midfield as part of a six-man swap that failed to spark the Azzurri.
The 23-year-old made his big event debut after missing the majority of the season with Juventus due to a seven-month ban for gambling on football matches.
Italy advanced from the first phase courtesy to Mattia Zaccagni’s last-gasp strike in a 1-1 draw with Croatia, and Spalletti stated that his squad had no choice but to improve in the knockout rounds.
Switzerland, on the other hand, increased in confidence and put on their best performance yet, getting off to a strong start at the Olympiastadion in hot Berlin, where a far more spectacular Italy won the 2006 World Cup.
Former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, now the leader of Italy’s delegation, has been telling the squad anecdotes about that victory, but it has not inspired a convincing performance — with the exception of his modern-day counterpart, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, a major figure in Italy’s Euro 2020 victory, produced a fantastic save to deny Breel Embolo midway through the first half, as Switzerland created the first serious chance by putting him through.
Donnarumma was unable to stop Freuler from putting Switzerland ahead after 37 minutes, as the midfielder controlled Vargas’ low cross and drilled in at the near post.
Switzerland held the ball for more than a minute in the buildup, threading up 33 passes before Freuler, who plays for Serie A club Bologna, scored.
Before the break, Donnarumma made a fine stop to push Fabian Rieder’s free-kick onto the post as the Swiss looked to match their best-ever Euros performance by reaching the final eight.
Hosts Germany needed a late equalizer to avoid defeat against the Swiss in the group stage, and in the previous Euros, they knocked out highly regarded France in the last 16, so Italy can’t claim they weren’t warned.
Spalletti substituted Stephan El Shaarawy for Zaccagni at halftime, but Italy fumbled the kickoff, and Switzerland doubled their lead 27 seconds later.
Augsburg midfielder Vargas, who began in place of the suspended Silvan Widmer on the left side of the attack, broke into the area and curled a fantastic shot over Donnarumma.
The closest Italy got to scoring in the opening hour was when Swiss defender Fabian Schar misread a header and hit the frame of his own goal.
As the clock ticked down, substitute Mateo Retegui fired Italy’s first chance on goal, while the nearly invisible Gianluca Scamacca hit the post from close range but appeared to be offside.
The sides drew twice in World Cup 2022 qualification, with the Azzurri failing to qualify, but they went one further in Germany, winning their first game against Italy since 1993, following 11 years without a victory.
Source: BBC
