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Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from the EURO 2024 Round of 16 clash, as Italy try to defend their title against a Switzerland side packed with Serie A players.
It kicks off at the Olympiastadion in Berlin at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT, 18.00 CET).
This is a knockout round, so if it’s level after 90 minutes they go to extra time and perhaps even a penalty shoot-out.
The Azzurri drew twice with Switzerland in 2022 World Cup qualifying, Jorginho failing to convert a penalty in each game, but have not lost to this opponent since May 1993.
You can also watch our live analysis both before and after the game on our YouTube Channel.
Gianluigi Donnarumma could ‘only apologise’ to Italy fans after the pathetic EURO 2024 exit to Switzerland, but was rebuffed by angry supporters in the stands https://t.co/dwq2unZL7g #Azzurri #SUIITA #Donnarumma #EURO2024
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) June 29, 2024
Luciano Spalletti hinted that the lack of time to prepare for EURO 2024 made it ‘difficult’ for him to get the best out of Italy and did not confirm if he would stay in the job after elimination https://t.co/clegRBSv8s #Azzurri #SUIITA #EURO2024
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) June 29, 2024
Donnarumma saluted the fans, but the fans were not entirely happy to get that reception. Many told them to leave and jeered.
Donnarumma leads the rest of the team in front of the Italy sector. pic.twitter.com/Yi6rxMABor
— Lorenzo Bettoni (@LoreBetto) June 29, 2024
2004 – #Italy have failed to reach the Quarter-Final of a UEFA European Championship Finals for the first time since 2004 (eliminated at the Group stage in that case). Darkness.#SWIITA #EURO2024
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) June 29, 2024
“It’s true that the goal at the start of the second half knocked the confidence out of us. Even if we were in their half, we were not incisive,” Spalletti told RAI Sport.
“What made the difference was the tempo, we were too slow compared to them in the first half. Even in terms of individuals, there was a different tempo of the movements and the duels.
“Unfortunately, sharpness and tempo makes the difference. Last time I thought perhaps if I gave them time to recover and change a few players, they’d be sharper. At this moment, for too many reasons, we are unable to do more than this right now.”
Italy disappointed throughout the tournament in Germany, fighting back to beat Albania 2-1, losing 1-0 to Spain when the scoreline would’ve been far worse if not for Gianluigi Donnarumma, then scraping a last-gasp draw with Croatia.
If not for that Mattia Zaccagni goal, they wouldn’t even have got out of the group stage, and Switzerland laid bare all the defects seen until then.
Spalletti came in to replace Roberto Mancini midway through qualifying in September 2023, but now he must prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“There is a long path ahead, we’ll approach that slowly, but naturally we need a higher tempo from the team. Even without talking about quality, we need more spirit of sacrifice, more consistency closing down the opponents, getting back into shape, pressing.
“Unfortunately, many things also came from the way we ended the season. Our players weren’t in exceptional form and with the temperature this high too, it becomes difficult.”
#Switzerland 2-0 #Italy
Italy bowed out of EURO 2024 with a whimper after a dismal performance in their 2-0 defeat to Switzerland, including a goal from Bologna’s Remo Freuler https://t.co/MlDcuuBz6K #SUIITA #SwitzerlandItaly #Azzurri #EURO2024
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) June 29, 2024
Italy are out and my word they really deserved to be out.
Steffen on, Aebischer off.
Into 2 minutes of stoppages. Which is not much.
Chiesa tries to attack, realises he has zero support and has to wait.
A fierce Cambiaso cross, but past everyone.
Frattesi replaces Fagioli.
Retegui nods down a cross and there’s nobody there to meet it…
Retegui nods down another Chiesa cross, this one charged down, then Pellegrini blasts into the stands from outside the area. That was pretty desperate.
Xhaka through ball releases Zuber down the left, he flashes a ball across the face of goal, but nobody there to meet it.
That’s not reassuring. Bastoni is limping.
Scamacca error, Switzerland go on the counter, Bastoni does really well to get there before Duah.
Corner cleared to the edge of the area, where Freuler balloons into the sky.
Duah and Sierro on, Embolo and Ndoye off.
Schar error with a headed clearance that falls to Scamacca on the edge of the box, he shins the volley into the stands.
Pellegrini and Cambiaso on, Cristante and Darmian off.
Huge chance! Ball over the top, Zaccagni knocks it on for Scamacca at the back post, who flicks it onto the upright! Was very possibly offside, but anyway…
That is probably the first shot on target from Italy. And it’s rubbish. Retegui scuffed from the edge of the area, bobbles into the arms of Sommer.
Cross from the left, just beyond Retegui.
THE CHAMPS ARE HERE!
SI!!!
Italy playing so bad. Much worse than the Macini era
Italian players look vaguely inconvenienced to be playing a game of football tonight.
This is a very ordinary looking Italy. But as well as the lack of coherence in midfield and a bewildering tendency to lose the ball on the edge of the box, the team seem to be almost entirely lacking in confidence.
It hurts my eyes to see Italy playing like this. So bad
Spalletti has no idea about his line up and how to play at all. Pressing no, defensive no, posession game no? Every match they tart like that. I have never seen they played such a bad football and they make Swiss look like prime Barcelona. They are so slow. I have been following Italy since 94.
Embarrasing performance. Never seen italy this bad. Offering absolutely nothing and there seems to be no discernible gameplan. Awful.
We often complained Italy played negative football under Mancini. However, this team was far worse than Mancini`s team, selection and tactical wise, they are non existence. Even Ventura`s team is way better than this one. We hope for better playing under this coach, but so far it’s been a disaster.
Absolutely dreadful football. None of these players fit to wear the shirt, Scamacca may as well be a totem pole. Never in my 41 years have I seen an Azzurri team this poor, Spalletti will have questions to answer. We’ve made Switzerland look like prime Barcelona
That was really awful. Makes what Mancini and Conte did look superhuman. Spalletti should be ashamed and immediately fired.
Spalleti,
A coach who ran away on Siesta for a year after winning the league. His mouth did a lot of talking but the performances were never there. Then Fagoili who hasn’t seen any real action on the field for almost 2 years because of a betting scandal is starting and playing? Nothing of this team made any sense from the beginning.
An Italy XI with 3 roma players from this season is bound to fail. Champion league serie a have a lot less italians with zero strikers. Future is very dark for azzurri. No upcoming talents in regular XI of top flight clubs.
This team right from the turkey game till the last never gelled as a unit.