On paper, it seems like a seismic shock. The might of Italy sent packing by Europe’s chocolatiers Switzerland, a first victory over the European Championship holders in 21 years achieved in as comprehensive a success as it gets in knockout tournament football. In reality, what took to the field in Euro 2024’s opening knockout match...
Category: Football
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Italy knocked out as VAR spoils Denmark’s run
Defending champions Italy crashed out of the European Championship after losing to Switzerland 2-0 in the last 16 on Sunday (AEST). Goals in each half from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas gave the Swiss their first win over their southern neighbor in 31 years and set up a quarterfinal against England or Slovakia in Düsseldorf...
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Switzerland 2 – Italy 0: Delayed reactions and random observations
If you were to ask me to describe in simple terms Italy’s performance in their round of 16 match against Switzerland on Saturday, my answer would be Not Good. In fact, it was very nearly verging on Bad. All jokes aside, Italy abjectly sucked on Saturday on the same pitch where their calcio forebears won...
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Italy’s reign as Euro champs is over, eliminated by Switzerland in last-16
In a major upset, Switzerland knocked out Euro 2020 champions Italy 2-0 in their last-16 match in Berlin. Switzerland dumped reigning champions Italy out of Euro 2024 with a stunning 2-0 victory to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in their history. Murat Yakin’s supremely well-drilled side outplayed the flat two-time winners in the...
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Euro 2024: Switzerland knock out champions Italy, enter quarters
Kolkata: At the venue of their biggest triumph this century, Italy returned for the first time since July 9, 2006 and were Swiss-knifed. Like in every edition barring 2012, the European Championship will have new winners. Switzerland players celebrate their second goal. (AFP) Switzerland had not beaten Italy since 1993 but that piece of statistic...
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Euro 2024: Are Switzerland the new surprise package after beating Italy?
Yakin faced questions about how he would prepare if England do turn out to be Switzerland’s next opponents, but said he was not thinking about that yet. “If it is England, then one step at a time and we will prepare for that, and we will have the chance [to play] against them – but...
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Euro 2024: Italy criticised and Luciano Spalletti’s future questioned after last-16 defeat by Switzerland
Spalletti bemoaned the lack of time he had spent with his squad, compared to other coaches at the tournament, injuries to certain players and even the fact Inter Milan won the title in April. “Inter won Serie A and then I made sure they are a very professional, serious club because Simone Inzaghi kept training...
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Luciano Spalletti finds many reasons for Italy’s defeat at hands of Switzerland
“I have the responsibility for what’s happened,” Luciano Spalletti announced after Italy’s European Championship exit. A commendable sentiment, albeit one slightly occluded by the rest of his speech, in which he blamed, in order: the heat, his players’ efforts in training, his lack of preparation time, the lack of physicality in footballers being produced by...
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Euro 2024: Switzerland knocks out defending champ Italy
BERLIN (AP) — Defending champion Italy crashed out of the European Championship after losing to Switzerland 2-0 in the last 16 on Saturday. Goals in each half from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas gave the Swiss their first win over their southern neighbor for 31 years and set up a quarterfinal against England or Slovakia...
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Spalletti: Italy Euro ’24 failure my ‘responsibility’
Jun 29, 2024, 03:33 PM ET Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said he took full responsibility for his team’s exit from the European Championship in the first knockout round after a 2-0 loss against Switzerland. However, the 65-year-old former Napoli boss also complained he had not had enough matches in which to blend his team ahead...
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Italy vs Switzerland: Euro 2024 exit shows ‘long path ahead’ – Spalletti
Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti said a lack of “sharpness and tempo” and the summer weather had been among the elements which had left his side “unable to do more” than a limp Uefa Euro 2024 exit against Switzerland in the round of 16. The holders had one shot on target as goals by Remo...
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Switzerland outclass Italy to reach last eight and end the torment for Spalletti
Scarcely can a crown have weighed more heavily. Italy, the defending champions, are out, and perhaps the most crushing disappointment of all was that they barely seemed to throw a punch in the process. Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas scored the goals either side of half-time for Murat Yakin’s magnificent Swiss team, and perhaps the...