On June 30, Beijing time, the 2024 Euro Championship ushered in the first matchup of the knockout round, with the world's 19th-ranked Swiss team and the 10th-ranked defending champion Italy in a fierce battle. Both sides had a mediocre performance in the group stage, and both advanced to this stage by virtue of finishing second in the group.
The atmosphere was tense and intense when the game began, with players from both sides falling to the ground frequently during the scramble, but recovering quickly in most cases. Switzerland had a slight advantage, looking for good chances from wide and crosses, while Italy were slightly passive. The Swiss attack finally came to fruition in the 37th minute, when Vargas sent in a pinpoint cross from the right and Freuler volleyed the ball into the near corner to give Switzerland a 1-0 lead!
After the start of the second half, Italy failed to adjust their defensive strategy effectively and conceded again in the 46th minute. This time it was Vargas himself who delivered a brilliant long-range shot that flew past the defender and hit the top right corner of the net to extend Switzerland's lead to 2-0.
Italy tried to launch a counterattack from behind, but their offensive failed to form an effective threat. The closest he came to equalising came when Scamacca tried from close range inside the box, but his shot bounced off the post.
After the game, the discussion about the match continued to heat up online, with various views and opinions appearing on social media:
Netizen A: "Switzerland is amazing! They played very well and were precise in taking advantage of every opportunity. ”
Netizen B: "Italy's performance this time is really unexpected, obviously it is the champion, how can it lose like this?"
Netizen C: "Switzerland's attacking style is very direct, with a high success rate through wide crosses, which Italy is completely unprepared for."
Netizen D: "Italy's performance on the defensive end was really disappointing, and they didn't show the style of the defending champions at all."
Netizen E: "Switzerland's second goal was so beautiful! It was a world-class shot. ”
Netizen F: "Seeing Italy lose like this, I feel that the suspense of the entire European Championship championship is great."
Some fans also joked about the performance of the Italian team:
Netizen G: "Is Italy training or on vacation this time? It doesn't look like the players are very motivated. ”
Netizen H: "This game reminds me of the embarrassment of Italy's World Cup group stage loss to North Macedonia."
Netizen I: "Switzerland is really eye-catching, maybe they are the dark horses of this European Cup."
After another battle, Italy did not find an effective solution. Their defensive inconsistency allowed Switzerland to take advantage of another goal, with Vargas' brilliant long-range strike extending the lead to 2-0. Although Italy tried to counter-attack late on, including a close-range shot that hit the post, neither could change the course of the game.
The Swiss had a slight advantage early in the game, trying to break down the Italian defence through wide attacks and precise crosses. However, Italy was more passive on the defensive end and appeared to be a little out of shape, which made some netizens who followed the game start to speculate whether Italy had problems in the dressing room.
Netizen A: "The Italian team was really disappointing today, it looks like they don't have that desire to win at all, it's like they're playing a friendly match."
Netizen B: "Although Switzerland's attack is not very sharp, their performance is much more positive than Italy."
Netizen C: "The overall atmosphere of the Italian team looks a little strange, usually they are not like this."
Switzerland's efforts finally paid off in the 37th minute of the second half, when Vargas's pinpoint cross found Freuler, who volleyed in to break the deadlock.
Netizen D: "It seems that the Swiss team's strategy has worked, their attacking style is very direct, taking advantage of every opportunity."
Netizen E: "Italy's defense is really too loose, this goal can be completely avoided."
After the start of the second half, Italy tried to strengthen their attack, but were still unable to effectively break through the solid Swiss defence. Instead, Switzerland attacked again in the 46th minute, with Vargas capitalising on a long-range shot to extend the score to 2-0 and further establish the victory.
Netizen F: "Italy's performance is really surprising, they are not competitive in this game."
Netizen G: "Switzerland played smart, they defended very solidly and took every attacking opportunity just right."
After the game, fans took to social media to express their opinions on the Italian team's performance, and many were surprised and disappointed, especially for a team known for its solid defense and excellent organization.
Netizen H: "It seems that Italy is the nemesis of the opponent this time, and I hope they can regain their form in the next games."
Netizen I: "Switzerland played really well, they proved that they are more than just a foil, this European Championship is really exciting!"
Unfortunately, Italy lost 2-0 to Switzerland in today's game, thus regrettably withdrawing from the competition. Switzerland, on the other hand, managed to reach the quarter-finals with a strong performance, showing tenacity and strength in the game.
After the start of the game, the Italian team looked a little passive, especially in the defensive end. They tried to organise their attacks through passes in midfield, but struggled to form an effective attacking threat in the face of Switzerland's tight defence. Some fans were apprehensive about the performance of the Italian team while watching the game, as they were used to the Italian team's reputation for solid defense, and today's performance was a bit disappointing.
The Swiss team showed consistent unity and tactical execution. They controlled the tempo for most of the game and constantly threatened the Italian goal with quick wide breaks and pinpoint crosses. Especially in the second half of the game, the Swiss team's attack was in full swing, and they frequently created threats.
In the 37th minute, the Swiss team finally broke the deadlock. Vargas received a pass from a teammate on the right and quickly got up to send the ball into the box. Freuler saw the moment and volleyed home to open the scoring for Switzerland. The goal boosted the morale of the Swiss team, but it also made things more difficult for the Italian team.
Italy tried to step up their attack during the game, but they were almost helpless against Switzerland's solid defence. Switzerland scored again early in the second half when Vargas sealed the win with a long-range shot from outside the box. The goal made the fans in attendance boil, while the Italian team seemed a little overwhelmed.
After the game, some fans took to social media to express their regret and disappointment with the Italian team. They felt that the Italian team was too passive in the game and lacked the determination and fighting spirit to attack. At the same time, they also praised the performance of the Swiss team, believing that the Swiss team showed tenacious fighting spirit and excellent tactical layout against strong opponents.
The match also showed that even champions can struggle to be perfect in key moments, and the outcome of a football match often depends on the performance and choices made at every moment on the pitch.
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