Shaken Italy plunges into a deep black hole
Mamma mia: The Italian national team is being eliminated from the EM after a dismal performance against Switzerland - and the Italian press is foaming with rage. The words "disaster," "shame," and "failure" are being used, as Squadra Azzurra faces a pile of ruins.
Many fans in the Berlin Olympic Stadium are still at the beer stand, the Italian national team is still at the pause espresso, when two commentators from Swiss television suddenly jump up, throw their arms in the air, and shout at each other in disbelief. It's the 46th minute in the EM quarterfinal between defending champions Italy and Switzerland, and Martin Vargas receives too much space on the left in the box and takes a shot on goal. The Swiss player delicately shoots the ball from just under 16 meters into the right upper corner. A lightning-fast goal for a 2:0 lead for Switzerland. The shock for Italy comes just 27 seconds after the restart, as an Italian team formation variant fails completely.
The TV commentators can't grasp the fact that their team is already in the semifinals at this point. They don't understand how easily the win, which was secured 45 minutes later, was achieved against Italy. There was little resistance, little fighting spirit on the grass from the men in blue. Just like the opening goal against Albania, which fell after only 23 seconds, the Azzurri concede a goal within the first 30 seconds after the restart. The final shock in a disastrous performance from the proud football nation.
The elimination from the EM and the bloodless performance of La Nazionale lead the notoriously harsh Italian press to foam at the mouth minutes after the final whistle. "La Gazzetta dello Sport" headlines directly: "Italy loses face." The famous sports newspaper explains further: "The Swiss stroll to a 2:0 win. Italy exits the tournament in the worst possible way, dominated by the Swiss. After the struggles in the group stage, Spalletti had hoped that the game against Switzerland would be a turning point. It became a collapse - physically, tactically, and psychologically. The Azzurri understood nothing, starting with the coach."
Infantino is shocked by Italy's poor showing
"Tuttosport" is no better with the national team and calls the elimination a "national failure." "Disaster for Italy," the newspaper writes further: "The Swiss dominate. Spalletti and the Azzurri are eliminated from the EM." "Corriere dello Sport" reports of "a shame" and "Italy's failure": "Exiting the EM without legs and without soul." According to "La Repubblica," it's "one of the ugliest national teams of the last few years," and deserving of elimination. "Corriere della Sera" speaks of a "serious blunder."
In fact, the newspapers are not exaggerating. For Italy, it's the first game in Berlin and at the Olympic Stadium since the victory in the penalty shootout against France in the final of the 2006 World Cup. But against Switzerland, nothing and no one reminds anyone of the strong team from back then. Despite trainer Luciano Spalletti making six changes to the team that managed to salvage an unbeaten record and second place in the group against Croatia in the final second, the Azzurri's elimination from the EM is a source of great disappointment.
Under the eyes of Italian FIFA-President Gianni Infantino, much security buzzes on the press tribune, keeping a close eye on Infantino on the honorary tribune. However, the guards are frequently driven away by angry Swiss commentators who block the view - Switzerland starts dominating, but Italy initially doesn't seem to respond.
In the 24th minute, the Swiss players create their first real chance - and Italy should never recover from this. Breel Embolo starts off on a breakthrough to the goal with a quick direct pass. Everyone on the field, including Embolo himself, thinks it's offside. Embolo hesitates too long before shooting at goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was a hero in the Euro 2016 final against England. Swiss commentators jump out of their plastic chairs for the first time, but their team applies immense pressing, keeping Italy from advancing from their own half. Weak Italian players trail behind. Trainer Spalletti looks just as helpless on the sidelines as his team.
Italy puts up little resistance
The following goal for the 1:0 could be seen by everyone in the stadium. Vargas serves Remo Freuler in the six-yard box, who doesn't take the ball well, but the Italians watch politely as he shoots from short range to the left. Donnarumma has no chance, and the two commentators are flabbergasted. At this point, every statistic speaks for Switzerland: 8:1 shots on target, 255 to 143 passes, 64% ball possession, 54% aerial duels won.
How does the Squadra Azzurra react? Not at all. The Swiss continue their pressing. After a free kick opportunity that Fabien Rieder cleverly hits the first post but Donnarumma and the crossbar save it, the commentator from the front row lands a loud hand on the table in front of him. However, he doesn't have to get worked up for long, as Italy shows that their poor form from the group stage was no fluke. After the lightning-fast goal at the restart, the Azzurri fail to mount an offensive response.
Tempo? Urgency? Pressure? No, I'm sorry. Italy puts up little resistance, no hunger, no determination. Both Gianluca Scamacca and Mateo Retegui disappointed in the attack, just as they had in the previous games. The Baggios, Baresis, Maldinis, and Chiellinis on the couch might have already exchanged a bottle of red wine for a flask of Grappa. Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon suffers on the bench.
Had Granit Xhaka and Co. imagined it would be this easy? Swiss spectators celebrate, a "La-Ola" wave through the Olympic Stadium. As the defeated Azzurri players leave the pitch after the final whistle, they chant towards the final on July 14: "Berlin, Berlin, we're going to Berlin!"
The great fear of the 2026 World Cup
One of the few Italian players who speaks after the game is Donnarumma. "It hurts a lot. We have to apologize to everyone," says the visibly affected goalkeeper. Looking to the future, he demands: "We need to find solutions quickly, we don't have much time. We'll analyze everything." "We're not capable of showing more than this right now," admits trainer Spalletti, who can continue despite the disaster.
After the earliest European Championship (EM) match since 2004, many things need to change for La Nazionale. The way will be long, the way will be rocky. "Yesterday's game was a big step back, unacceptable. But that's the point from which we have to move forward," Spalleti tried to find strength a day after the debacle, to take on the harsh Italian football reality.
Already in September, the Azzurri face matches in the Nations League. However, much more is at stake when it comes to qualifying for the 2026 World Championship. After missing the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 for the third time in a row, it would be an avalanche in proud Italy, and the EM-exit would taste like a sweet panna cotta with limoncello in comparison. Mamma mia.
The Italian national team faces a challenging road ahead, as they look to qualify for the 2026 World Championship after missing out on the last two editions. Despite the early elimination from the European Football Championship 2024, coach Spalletti remains optimistic, acknowledging the need for change and improvement.
Meanwhile, the Swiss football team celebrates their impressive victory over Italy, with commentators and spectators already looking forward to possible participation in the 2026 World Cup in Italy. The Swiss team's dominant performance against the defending champions has raised expectations for their future performances, especially considering Italy's own struggles.
