Euro 2024 pre-QF: Italy vs Switzerland highlights - defending champions out

Defending champions Italy were knocked out of Euro 2024 in the round of 16, following a careless and directionless performance by Luciano Spalletti's team that resulted in a 2-0 loss. However, Switzerland's Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas scored two outstanding goals for the team.

WATCH Switzerland vs Italy video highlights

Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp After a slow, shaky start on a steamy evening in Berlin, Breel Embolo's attempt to wait out Gianluigi Donnarumma proved fruitless, as the Italian goalkeeper easily parried his curled shot, giving Switzerland the lead in the twenty-fourth minute. The Italians made their task easier by making sloppy passes and poor decisions, giving up the ball cheaply in central places, and not applying enough pressure as they tried to leave the field, even if the Swiss defended well.

Though it was a premonition of things to come, the Italians were unable to hang onto the ball at all in the first half, with even the most insignificant passes ending up on a red shirt instead of a blue one.

Stephan El Shaaraway was the lone bright spot for the Italians. He had a great opportunity of his own in the 26th minute with a classic jinking run, but even though he did brilliantly to get the ball back onto his right foot, his shot was blocked for a corner, and strangely, he was taken off the field at halftime.

With a masterfully-worked goal in the 37th minute, the Swiss broke through and began to look far more like the defending champions than their lethargic opponents. They were tearing apart the Italians.

Vargas found space on the left as Michel Aebischer moved into the middle of the pitch. Although his pinpoint pass put Freuler's initial touch to the test, the midfielder hammered the ball home to put his team ahead at the half.

Whatever Spalletti said at halftime proved ineffective, as his team fell behind two goals in the space of a minute. Vargas' incredible shot curled into the top corner, leaving Italy's lumbering, flat-footed defence for spectators.

Fabian Schaer's deft defensive header caught his own goalkeeper Yann Sommer off guard in the 51st minute, and the ball bounced up and kissed the far post before being cleared, giving the Swiss an almost lifeline to the Italians.

The Italian players seemed helpless against the formidable Swiss defense as the clock was running out, relying on rash long shots that didn't really threaten Sommer.

Gianluca Scammacca's close-range effort to scuff the ball onto the near post in the 74th minute was as close as Italy would get, and their supporters were leaving the stands well before the final whistle, leaving those still seated dumbfounded by their team's lackluster performance.

After the match, Italian coach Spalletti remarked, "That goal at the start of the second half cut our legs, we weren't very incisive."

Italy vs Switzerland Head-to-head

Matches: 61

Italy Won: 29

Switzerland Won: 7

Drawn: 25

Key stats ahead of Italy vs Switzerland match

Switzerland failed to progress beyond the group stage in its first three European Championship appearances, but it has since reached the knockout stage in each of it last three tournaments.

Italy has always scored in its previous six matches at the Olympiastadion.

Switzerland has won only one of its four penalty shootouts at a World Cup or Euros, while Italy became the first team to win more than one at the same European Championship in the last edition. Italy defeated 3-2 England on penalties to win Euro 2020.

Euro Cup 2024: Round of 16 match, Switzerland vs Italy probable starting XI 1Yann Sommer 1Gianluigi Donnarumma 22Fabian Schaer 4Alessandro Buongiorno 5Manuel Akanji 23Alessandro Bastoni 13Ricardo Rodriguez 13Matteo Darmian 20Michel Aebischer 8Jorginho 2Leonidas Stergiou 18Nicolo Barella 8Remo Freuler 16Bryan Cristante 10Granit Xhaka 2Giovanni Di Lorenzo 19Dan Ndoye 3Federico Dimarco 17Ruben Vargas 9Gianluca Scamacca 7Breel Embolo 14Federico Chiesa

Euro Cup 2024: Italy vs Switzerland live kick-off time, live streaming and telecast

When will the Italy vs Switzerland match in the Euro Cup 2024 take place?

The Italy vs Switzerland football match will take place on June 29 (Indian Time).

At what time will the Italy vs Switzerland match in Euro Cup 2024 begin?

ALSO READ: Euro Cup 2024 Round of 16 full schedule, live match time, telecast details The Italy vs Switzerland football match will begin at 9:30 PM IST on June 29.

Which TV Channels will live telecast the Italy vs Switzerland Euro Cup 2024 match in India?

Sony Sports Network will live telecast the Italy vs Switzerland match in India on Sony Ten 2 HD/SD with English commentary.

How to watch live streaming of the Italy vs Switzerland match in Euro Cup 2024 in India?

Sony LIV will livestream the Italy vs Switzerland match in India.