Defending champions Italy were knocked out of Euro 2024 on Saturday, beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in their last 16 match in Berlin.
Murat Yakin’s supremely well-drilled side outplayed the flat two-time winners in the last 16 clash in Berlin and will face England or Slovakia in the next round.
The Swiss also ended a run of 11 matches without a win against Italy dating back to 1993.
Italy’s reign as European champions is at an end after they were beaten but an organised Switzerland side in the Euro 2024 round of 16. Goals either side of the half time break saw the Swiss book their quarter-final place, with Remo Freuler opening the scoring before Ruben Vargas fired in a stunning second. Switzerland will face the winner of England v Slovakia.
Switzerland cruised through to the quarter-finals with a comfortable victory over an insipid Italy side in Berlin.
Luciano Spalletti made six changes from the Italians’ fortunate group stage draw against Croatia, and the contrast between their disjointed side and the settled Swiss, with their one enforced move bringing Ruben Vargas in for Silvan Widmer, played out on the field.
The ball lived in the Italian half before the interval and but for a couple of saves from Gianluigia Donarumma from Breel Embolo and Fabian Rieder, the Swiss could have had more to show at the break than the Remo Freuler’s goal to open the scoring.
It was expected Italy would come out of the box with desire and purpose after a dressing room dressing down, but instead they gave the ball away from the kick off.
Switzerland waltzed down the field before Vargas, given a wealth of space in the box, doubled the lead. The reigning champions did not look like getting back into the game from this point onwards.
