At 0:00 a.m. Beijing time on June 30, the first 1/8 final of the 2024 European Championship in Germany was played at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, with the defending champion Italy playing against Switzerland. In the first half, Freuler's goal gave Switzerland the lead; Just 27 seconds into the second half, Vargas blitzed the Italian goal. In the end, the Italian team lost 0-2 to the Swiss team, and the defending champions stopped in the round of 16.
Italy, who are ranked 10th in the world, stumbled in the group stage, beating Albania and then losing 1-0 to Spain before drawing with Croatia in the final round with a 98th-minute goal. Switzerland finished second in the group stage with one win and two draws, and they narrowly finished top of the group after leading Germany for a long time in the final round. Italy and Switzerland have met several times in recent years, and in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Jorginho missed two penalties against Switzerland, resulting in Italy failing to qualify. In today's rematch against Switzerland, Jorginho was removed from the starting line-up. However, Italy are unbeaten against Switzerland for 31 years.
In the 8th minute, Barella, the core of the Italian midfielder, was surrounded by three Swiss players when he was protecting the ball, his thigh was pushed by the opponent, Barella fell to the ground in pain, and the team doctor came into the field to treat him. In the 11th minute, the Swiss team made a long pass to the penalty area on the left side of the frontfield, Ndoye volleyed and kicked the ball, which did not pose a threat to the goal. In the 13th minute, Switzerland's Ebischer was knocked down near the left touchline. In the 15th minute, Swiss captain Xhaka was injured again and sat on the field. In the 18th minute, Italy won a well-placed free kick in front, Faggioli suddenly picked up the ball, and Di Lorenzo in the box quickly stepped forward to volley with his left foot, but unfortunately the ball was kicked and did not pose a threat.
In the 24th minute, Switzerland went straight to the left side of the field, and Embolo had a one-on-one chance, his push from the left side of the box was saved by Donnarumma, and then the Swiss team's follow-up shot was deflected wide of the Italian defender. In the 26th minute, Chiesa dribbled the ball on the left side of the penalty area, and after successive passes, he fired a low shot, which goalkeeper Sommer saved. In the 37th minute, the Swiss team Vargas crossed on the left side of the front, and Freuler, who was inserted into the penalty area, easily stopped the ball and volleyed with his left foot when unguarded, and the ball hit Mancini and changed the line slightly, flying into the goal from the near corner, and the Swiss team led the Italian team 1-0.
In the 45th minute, Switzerland won a free kick from outside the box on the right side of the field, Reid unexpectedly chose to spin directly into the near corner, Donnarumma pounced, and the ball hit the post and went off the line. At the end of the first half, Italy had only one shot on goal and temporarily trailed Switzerland 1-0.
In the second half, Italy were the first to make adjustments, with Zaccagni, who scored the equaliser in the final round of the group stage, coming on to replace El Shaarawy, who had been inactive in the first half. After the start of the game, the Italian team kicked off in the middle circle, the ball was passed back to the side of the half after a mistake was tackled, Vargas received the ball on the left side of the penalty area, the ball hung in the corner, the Italian team fell behind the Swiss team 0-2, and the second half opened only 27 seconds.
In the 52nd minute, Faggioli picked up a pass in front, but there were no teammates in the penalty area, and Swiss defender Schell's header almost cleared the ball, and the ball hit the crossbar. In the 64th minute, Spalletti replaced Barella with Retegui, and the Italian team became a double center forward. In the 74th minute, Cristante picked up a pass in front, Zaccagni in the penalty area flicked a header, and Scamacca, who was outflanked to the back point, stretched out his foot and poked, and the ball hit the post and bounced back.
After that, Italy made another substitution, with Manuel Pellegrini and Cambiasso coming on for Darmian and Cristante. The Swiss team also responded, with two forwards, Ndoye and Embolo, being substituted, and the Swiss team concentrated on defence. In the 83rd minute, taking advantage of the opportunity for the Italian team to press all the way, the Swiss team counterattacked, Xhaka sent a through ball, and substitute Zubair received the ball into the left side of the penalty area and fired a low shot into the far corner from a small angle, and the ball deflected off the far post.
In the end, at the end of the match, the Italian team lost 0-2 to the Swiss team and was eliminated from the competition.