Convincing victory over Italy, Switzerland enters EURO 2024 quarter-finals
VTC News•30/06/2024
(VTC News) - Switzerland is the first team to enter the quarter-finals of EURO 2024 after defeating Italy with a score of 2-0.
The round of 16 of EURO 2024 kicked off with a match between Switzerland and Italy. The Olympic Stadium in Berlin (Germany) - where Italy won the 2006 World Cup - witnessed the reigning European champions being dethroned. Switzerland started the game better and also played better throughout the first half. Coach Murat Yakin's team did not attack aggressively but they controlled the ball very well.
Switzerland played better than Italy. (Photo: Reuters)
Italy attacked very little in the first half. Coach Luciano Spalletti's team only had one shot, but even that shot by Federico Chiesa could not get past the Swiss defenders. In a dominant game, Switzerland had a worthy goal. Ruben Vargas assisted Remo Freuler to open the scoring. This was the moment when the Italian players showed their weakness from the fighting to choosing positions and marking. After a disappointing first half, Italy sent "youngster" Mattia Zaccagni onto the field. However, when the Azzurri had not yet had time to re-establish their formation and style of play, Switzerland increased the score to 2-0 in the first phase of the second half. Italy continued to defend with many loopholes, allowing Switzerland to coordinate very simply from the left wing into the penalty area. Vargas took a beautiful shot into the far corner that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could not save even though he jumped as far as he could.
Switzerland eliminated Italy in the round of 16 of EURO 2024. (Photo: Reuters)
Trailing by two goals, Italy pushed up their attack but were stuck. Chiesa and his teammates did not have effective connections. Coach Spalletti's substitutions did not make a difference. Switzerland defended solidly and had some luck in the rare careless situations. There were two situations where the ball hit the Swiss goalpost, once from a header cleared by a defender and the other from a close-range shot by Gianluca Scamacca. Italy did not have any better chances. Switzerland won 2-0 and qualified for the quarter-finals.
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