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On June 30, the quarter-finals of the knockout round of the European Championship staged a shocking drama: Switzerland, ranked 19th in the world, played against Italy, the defending champions ranked 10th in the world. This match is not only an ordinary knockout match, but also a battle of honor and history. In the end, Switzerland beat Italy 2-0 to create a historic victory, while Italy suffered a humiliating record of losing to Switzerland for the first time in 31 years.
Before we get into the clash of highlights, let's take a look back at how the two teams performed in the group stage. The Italian team won 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss in the group stage, accumulated 5 points, and finally advanced to the knockout stage as the second in the group. Switzerland, on the other hand, had a more solid performance in the group stage, with an unbeaten record of 1 win and 2 draws, which also accumulated 5 points and also entered the quarterfinals as group runners-up. Both teams showed their quality and hunger for victory in the group stage, which also added more suspense to the upcoming matchup.
At the beginning of the game, the players on both sides showed a high level of competition and a strong desire to win. The physical confrontation on the field was extremely fierce, and players from both sides did not hesitate to give their all to fight for every possession. In such a high-pressure environment, the players fell to the ground one after another, but fortunately, after a short period of treatment, they were able to stay on the pitch and fight. The pace of the game was not fast, but every transition between attack and defense was full of uncertainty and tension, and both sides were waiting for the other to make mistakes.
In this game, the Swiss team showed their superiority in possession. They tried to break down Italy's defence and create scoring chances through breaks and crosses from the wings. Although Italy's defenders were able to concentrate and clear in time, the Swiss attacked more and more as the game progressed. Embolo's one-on-one anti-offside effort almost changed the scoreline, but it was saved by Italian goalkeeper Donnarumma. The constant pressure from the Swiss team has caused the Italian defence to be under constant attack, especially in the penalty area.
Compared to the initiative of the Swiss team, the Italian team looked a little constrained in this game. They make a lot of passing errors on the offensive end and struggle to organize effective combinations. Defensively, Italy are also under pressure, with their defence looking a little sluggish in the face of Switzerland's continuous transmission and unable to press effectively. In such a situation, the changes in the midfield of the Italian team did not seem to have the desired effect, and they remained passive at the start of the second half.
The turning point came in the 37th minute, when Switzerland's Vargas provided an assist after a delicate observation, and the fast-paced Freuler received the ball and curled a decisive volley into the near corner of the goal, giving the Italian goalkeeper a 1-0 lead. The goal not only broke the deadlock on the pitch, but also gave the Swiss team a huge morale boost.
Shortly after the start of the second half, Switzerland once again capitalized on the mistakes of the Italian defence, and Vargas's brilliant shot penetrated the Italian goal again to extend the score to 2-0. The goal was almost a death sentence for Italy, who were one step away from the quarter-finals. Although the Italians tried to launch a counter-attack in the remaining time, their efforts could not change the course of the game.
Italy had a great chance to equalise in the closing stages of the game, when Scamacca hit the post with a close-range stab shot from inside the box, while the linesman raised the flag for offside. It was a moment that epitomized the whole game for the Italian team, who were always a little bit less lucky and accurate when it mattered.
With the referee's final whistle, the Italian team had to accept a 2-0 defeat and missed out on the quarterfinals of the European Championship. Switzerland, on the other hand, advanced to the next round with a convincing victory. The match was not only a huge achievement for Swiss football, but also the writing of the record of shame for the Italian team losing to Switzerland for the first time in 31 years.
In this European Championship 1/8 final, we witnessed the biggest charm of football matches - unpredictability. The Swiss team's victory is not just an ordinary match victory, it represents the challenge of the weak against the strong, and represents the possibility of a dream come true. And for the Italian team, this defeat is undoubtedly a heavy blow, but it is also an opportunity to reflect and grow. Every moment of football is a new beginning, and every team has the opportunity to create their own glory. On this stage full of uncertainties, we look forward to more exciting stories to happen.