Italy were knocked out of the EURO 2024 Round of 16 after a 2-0 loss against Switzerland on Saturday. Here are three things we learned from the game in Berlin and the Azzurri’s elimination.
Defending champions Italy suffered a 2-0 loss to Switzerland on Saturday, offering another awful performance which saw them produce just one shot on target. We’ve already analysed the players’ performances with player ratings, but there’s much more to say about a poor match and a disappointing tournament.
No reaction
The first thing that comes to mind is that Italy didn’t even react. Spalletti said it was down to sharpness and tempo and that, ultimately, Italy’s players were not in enough shape to play on par with the Swiss. This seems a bit too simplistic. The players’ attitude is what disturbed the fans even more than the result itself. Antonio Conte’s Italy were eliminated from the 2016 Euros in the quarter-finals by Germany, but everyone remembers that team – surely not stronger than this side – for their attitude and desire to fight on every ball. We didn’t see that from Italy against Switzerland and on other occasions here in Germany.
Confused
Perhaps some Italy players were not in shape. Surely, they were all confused. Spalletti changed three line-ups in four games and made a substitution during the first half of every match except the first one against Albania. This means that in three games from June 20, Italy have changed their formation every 45 minutes. It was already a team with little experience in playing together and Spalletti had been in charge for barely 10 matches before the Euros. Surely, mixing things up so much hasn’t helped the players and it’s a question Spalletti will have to answer at a press conference with FIGC President Gabriele Gravina today.
Striker
Here we are again. Italy thought they had found a reliable centre forward twice prior to the Euros. First it was Mateo Retegui who scored two goals in two matches in international friendlies in March. Then Gianluca Scamacca looked unplayable for Atalanta in the last three months of the campaign. We thought Italy had fixed their problems up front, but we had to think again. Italy centre forwards produced just one shot on target in four matches (it was Scamacca in the opening game against Albania). Strikers have been criticised and they partially deserve it. Scamacca, Retegui and even Raspadori were never a threat to any opponent, but at the same time, they didn’t even have the chance to score. Napoli‘s Spalletti were a goal machine thanks to Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but also thanks to collective play and a team able to set them up. No coincidence they struggled in 2023-24 without the same organisation around them. Italy never looked organised at EURO 2024 and were deservedly eliminated by a team that was not necessarily better in technical terms but surely more organised.
As Italian fan in England and watching Italy at the Euros, I have to say that Italy were a shambles, they didn’t deserve to get out the group stages and honestly this has to be one of the worst Italy teams I’ve ever seen. No fight, no pressing, no determination, sloppy and the Scamacca shouldn’t be anywhere near that Italy team. I’m actually glad they are out because it was painful to watch.
Well said Lorenzo you’re on point there. So sad and shameful to exit like this.
This has been going on for too long. When are they going to wake there in Italy. The National team has been in decline sine 2006. Its time you got all the youth teams up to scratch and use them. This cant carry on like this the Italy team is rubbish. They deserved what they got on that performance. The Italian FA should all go clean house and Italian football should be reformed. Get all your house in order in Italy and toughen up.
Been watching Italy for the last 65 year .This team is the worst I’ve seen..
Only the goal. Keeper played.
In previous years a performance like this would result on the coach being sacked..
In my opinion …
Let’s hope next manager is a x international player…
there is nothing more to say that hasn’t been said. With all respect to Switzerland, Italy should not lose to them. Or at the very least in should be extra time / penalties sort of exit.
There is no identity to the team yet. Spalletti has to find that – and quickly.
I am now 52 years old, I have been watching world cups and European championships since 1982 and I love the Italian team since 1982, winning the world cup 1982 in Spain (Paolo Rossi won having the golden-shoe with 6 goals in world cup 1982), and Italian football team’s winning Euro 2020.
The current Italian foot-ball players played very poorly and lost humiliatingly to a worthless Swiss team !!! I think the Italian football federation should review and re-select the coach and re-select the current Italian players to prepare for word cup 2026 ! Don’t let the Italian team that won the world championship 4 times 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 have to be absent from the past 2 world cups 2018 and 2022 !!! The current Italian coach and current foot-ball players are very bad and very humiliated by the tradition of their predecessors !!!