The title holder is already going home. And that’s quite normal. THE
Italians have never been able to challenge the Swiss brilliant and applied, Saturday at the Olympic stadium in Berlin (Germany) for the first round of 16 of Euro 2024. The second goal of the team coached by Murat Yakin partly symbolizes this ultimately unbalanced duel.
Known to be attentive when it comes to defending, the Azzurri were very lax by letting Vargas enter the area less than a minute after the start of the second half. The Augsburg striker had time to adjust a curled shot towards the top corner of Donnarumma (2-0, 46e). A moment of pleasure.
One miracle, not two
The PSG goalkeeper had given in during the first half at the end of a jubilant collective movement for the Swiss supporters and football lovers, concluded by a half-volley from Freuler (1-0, 37e), also forgotten behind the Italian defense. Miraculously successful in the last group match against Croatia five days earlier (1-1, equalizer in the 98th minute)e minute), Luciano Spalletti’s training is paying for its shortcomings this time.
Switzerland thus offers itself a second European tenor at this stage of the round of 16, three years after knocking out Kylian Mbappé’s Les Bleus. On Saturday, the best team won, no one will be able to dispute that. The Swiss will face the winner of England-Slovakia scheduled for Sunday in the quarter-finals.
