Euro 2024: Pressure Is A Privilege

How bad were Italy? How good were Switzerland? Can the hosts go all the way?

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By Patric Ridge

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Italy scraped through to the knockout stage thanks to a last-gasp strike from Mattia Zaccagni in the 1-1 draw with Croatia on Monday.

But five days later, there was no late hero in Berlin, as the holders were convincingly dispatched 2-0 by Switzerland.

In truth, it was a meek title defence. The Azzurri managed just one win from their four games — and that came against Albania; they were outplayed by Spain, got a huge slice of luck against Croatia and were by far second best against the Swiss.

As the above graphic, courtesy of Sofascore, shows, Italy only gained any attacking momentum in the last-16 tie after they had fallen 2-0 down just after the restart — Ruben Vargas curling in a sublime strike to follow up on Remo Freuler’s opener.

It wasn’t a classic by any means, and Switzerland didn’t have to be brilliant, but this was a dismal showing from the holders — and further evidence of the drop-off the Italy team has suffered since they won Euro 2020.

That being said, it should not have been this bad.