After nearly two weeks of competition, the group stage of the European Championship has officially come to an end, followed by an even more exciting knockout stage. The highlight of the first round of the knockout round will naturally be the strong dialogue between France and Belgium, and the first knockout match will be played in the early morning of June 30 Beijing time, against Switzerland and Italy.
Both teams showed their quality in the group stage, but some problems were exposed. Switzerland qualified with a solid performance, while defending champions Italy had their ups and downs. This duel is not only a contest of strength, but also a game of will and tactics.
Switzerland performed well in the group stage, advancing unbeaten with one win and two draws. Their defensive system is rock-solid, and there is no shortage of bright spots on the offensive end. Especially against Wales, Switzerland showed their tenacity and ended up with a 1-1 draw. In the face of the mighty Italy, Switzerland was undaunted and the two sides drew 0:0.
In the crucial final round, Switzerland defeated Turkey 2-1 to successfully advance to the knockout round. However, Switzerland also missed out on a chance to top the group. In the final round, they were held to a goalless draw by their opponents and failed to overtake hosts Italy. Still, moving into the lower half of the zone, where competition is relatively small, also creates more opportunities for Switzerland.
This team has already proven their quality, and the next knockout rounds will be the stage for them to show their even greater potential. As the defending champions, Italy's journey to the group stage has not been easy. They were narrowly beaten by Albania in the opening round, but goals from Inter Milan duo Bastoni and Barella helped them to a comeback victory.
In the second round, Italy lost 1-2 against strong rivals Spain, revealing some problems. In the life-or-death third round, Italy drew with Croatia with a hard-fought draw with Zaccagni's crucial goal, and finally advanced with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss.
Zaccagni's goal was a lifesaver for Italy in the group stage. Without that goal, Italy could have stopped in the group stage. The goal not only saved the team's fortunes, but also showed Italy's tenacity in the face of crisis. It was an important turning point for the whole team and gave them hope again.
In the world rankings, Italy is ranked 10th, while Switzerland is ranked 19th. In terms of title probabilities, Italy is in seventh place, just two places above Switzerland. This match is one of the most unpredictable matchups of the knockout round, and it is highly likely that it will need to be decided in extra-time.
The two teams are not only equal in strength and similar form, but also have the ability to play a long-term game. Looking back at the last European Championship, Italy beat Switzerland 3-0 in the group stage. After reaching the knockout stages, Switzerland beat France on penalties. Italy, on the other hand, beat Austria in extra time and then beat Spain and England on penalties.
This history shows that both teams have the ability to show their quality in key moments, making the direction of this game even more confusing. Although Italy are one of the favourites, the possibility of an upset in the knockout rounds remains. Switzerland's counter-attacking style of defense is precisely what Italy is not good at dealing with.
If Italy can't adjust their form in time, they are likely to fall for this game. This Swiss-Italy clash is undoubtedly one of the most unpredictable games of this knockout round. The two teams have very different styles and have their own strengths. Switzerland are known for their solidity, while Italy are more focused on possession and attack.
The match is likely to go to extra time or even a penalty shootout, and the suspense will last until the last minute. For fans, this match is definitely not to be missed. It will be interesting to see if Switzerland can continue their impressive run in the group stage or if Italy can repeat their style as defending champions.
Let's look forward to this exciting matchup and witness the new legendary moment of the European Cup. The most recent meeting between the two teams took place in a World Cup qualifier in Qatar. The two sides drew one game each at home and away, with the scores 0:0 and 1:1 respectively. It is worth noting that in one of those games, Jorginho scored a crucial penalty.
This not only ended his record of 100% penalty shots, but also laid the hidden danger for Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Then in the first round of the play-offs, Italy unexpectedly lost to North Macedonia, resulting in the embarrassing situation of missing the European Championship champions from the World Cup. This series of events shows that the Italian team is not indestructible.
From multiple perspectives, they could all be at risk of an unexpected exit in this tournament. In this game, the details will be the difference between victory and defeat. Italy need to improve their attacking efficiency while being aware of holes in their defence. Switzerland, for their part, will need to make the most of counter-attacking opportunities and stay focused defensively.
Both teams have endured a difficult group stage and are now on the same page. Who will have the last laugh in this battle of life and death, let's wait and see. As the game approached, the atmosphere on and off the pitch grew tense. The fans are eagerly awaiting, the coaching staff is racking their brains to devise tactics, and the players are actively preparing for the game.
This is not just a football match, but also a contest of two national honors. Regardless of the outcome, it is believed that this game will be a wonderful chapter in this European Championship. Let's look forward to this exciting matchup, witness the charm of football and feel the spirit of competitive sports.
That's the magic of the European Championships, where every moment can change history and every goal can create a legend.
In this summer, let's carnival for football and boil for passion!
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