After a shocking loss to Switzerland, the UEFA EURO tournament’s reigning champions Italy are eliminated. Switzerland are now in the quarterfinals. In Berlin, Murat Yakin’s team defeated Italy to advance to the quarterfinals of UEFA EURO 2024 at the expense of the holders.
Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas caused the harm in Berlin as Switzerland disposed of the holders from UEFA EURO 2024 in the round of 16.
Although Switzerland was successful in establishing possessing control, they failed to create a chance until the 24th minute. Breel Embolo beat Gianluigi Donnarumma into a save after sneaking past Italy’s offside trap.
They went ahead thanks to a brilliant pass when Vargas passed the ball left to Bologna’s Freuler, who controlled and fired low past Donnarumma.
Italy would have been 2-0 somewhere near the break had Donnarumma not pushed Fabian Rieder’s free-kick on to the post and wide.
The second goal was soon to come however, one more Bologna player – Michel Aebischer – chose unattended Vargas on the edge of the box minutes after the restart, with the 25-year-old tracking down the top corner with a trendy shot across goal.
When Fabian Schär’s defensive header looped against Yann Sommer’s post, the Swiss almost gave their opponents a lifeline. However, it was a rare slip from a team that took risks but always had an out-ball and rarely looked nervous until the end, when Luciano Spalletti’s team threw caution to the wind.
When Gianluca Scamacca hit a shot against the woodwork on 74 minutes, he briefly sped up the action. In any case, Switzerland knew all about it.
Switzerland’s last appearance at this stage saw them record one of the most famous results in their history, knocking out France on penalties at EURO 2020.
EURO 2024: The Last 16 Draw In Full
This may now rank among the greatest Swiss performances ever after eliminating the defending champions with a truly commanding performance.
Italy, the defending champions are out after a disheartening performance. The Azzurri were outplayed for the majority of the game, and the only time they came close to scoring was on a late attack.
Breel Embolo, Switzerland forward:
“We deserved to win against a difficult team to play. We were compact and we created chances . We made a really good game and we scored at the right moment. I am really proud for the team and the staff and for the whole country.”
Key stats:
• Vivo Player of the Match: Ruben Vargas (Switzerland)
• Switzerland’s seven goals at EURO 2024 have all been scored by different players.
• Freuler is now Switzerland’s oldest EURO scorer aged 32 years and 75 days – breaking Mario Gavranović’s previous record of 31 years and 216 days at EURO 2020.
• The Swiss had not won in 11 games against Italy prior to this match (D6 L5) since a 1-0 success in a May 1993 World Cup qualifier.
• This is the first time Italy have conceded more than once in a World Cup or EURO finals game since they lost 4-0 to Spain in the final of EURO 2012.
• Switzerland have reached the quarter-finals for a second successive EURO, having made it to the last eight for the first time at EURO 2020. They have lost only one of their last 18 international matches (W8 D9).
• Italy have missed out on the EURO quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.
• Gianluca Mancini became the first Italian to make his EURO debut in a knockout round match since the introduction the group stage in 1980.
Switzerland advance to next Saturday’s quarter-final in Düsseldorf, where they will face the winners of Sunday’s round of 16 tie between England and Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.
The winners of the last-eight tie play the semi-final in Dortmund on 10 July, with the final in Berlin four days later.
