The Big Three performed brilliantly! Italy was knocked out of the tournament and England reaped the benefits
On the night just past, the knockout round of the European Championship was rekindled, and the two games were both surprising and embarrassing. In particular, the performance of the Italian team, which lost 0-2 to the Swiss team, came to an abrupt end in the defense of the title. This upset makes people sigh that the beams of the Italian team and the Swiss team are completely over.
Italy vs Switzerland: A surprise defeat for the defending champions
Italy, the traditional European giants and defending champions, should have been one of the favourites for this European Championship. Their performance was a big surprise. In the World Cup qualifiers two years ago, the Italian team was overtaken by the Swiss team, failed to qualify from the group, and unexpectedly exited the play-offs. Now in the European Championship, they were eliminated by the Swiss team again, and this grudge is really getting more and more chaotic.
To be honest, if it weren't for the aura of the Italian team, this game would not have been an upset. Italy's performance at this European Championship is really hard to say, and they almost failed to qualify for the group stage. As for the Swiss team, their performance was as solid as ever, almost beating the hosts in the group stage and finally finishing second in the group. Their strength should not be underestimated.
The course of the game: Switzerland's strong attack
As soon as the game began, the Swiss team took the initiative and was not afraid of the traditional Italian giants at all. In the 37th minute, Switzerland's Freuler pushed a shot in the penalty area, and the ball hung in the corner, Donnarumma could only look at the ball and sigh. This goal boosted the morale of the Swiss team.
In the second half, the Swiss team continued to attack. Vargas's world-class shot flew over the crossbar into the back of the net, and Donnarumma was once again powerless. The Italian team, which was down 0-2, actually poured their feet slowly in the backfield, as if the game had nothing to do with them. Seeing this scene, it really makes people laugh and cry.
Lucky moment in England
Italy's exit is definitely great news for England. After all, Italy has always been England's nemesis. In the last European Championship, Italy defeated England on penalties in the final to win the championship. This time, if Italy advances to the quarter-finals, they are likely to meet England again in their next matches.
Italy's early exit left England with one less tough opponent in the bottom half. Although the Swiss team is in good form, in the eyes of the England team, they are still more confident that they can beat this second-rate team. The premise is that England will have to beat Slovakia first to reach the quarter-finals.
Changes in the situation in the second half
With the Italian team out, the situation in the bottom half has also changed dramatically. England have no natural rivals and the road to the final looks like an easy one. While the likes of Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria were the better opponents, England were the clear winner. They just haven't played as well as they should for the time being.
In the bottom half, England's biggest opponent is actually themselves. If Gareth Southgate can get the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden back in form, England will be virtually unstoppable ahead of the final.
England's outlook for the future
If England can reach the final, they will reach the final of two consecutive European Championships, which will be a great achievement. Looking back, England's performances at the European Championships have been underwhelming. It wasn't until three years ago that they reached the final for the first time. Although Southgate has been questioned, his coaching record is indeed not bad.
This time, if England can reach the final again, hopefully they can take their chances and not lose the title at the last minute. After all, opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared. England fans should also cheer on their team and expect them to make history at this European Championship.
Looking forward to England's magnificent turnaround
Italy's upset exit has undoubtedly made the second half of the European Championship even more confusing. England's prospects of qualification look bright, but the world of football is changing rapidly, and any game can have an unexpected outcome. Let's take a look at England's future fixtures and the challenges and opportunities they may face.
England's tactical changes and player form
The progress of the England squad in recent years is obvious to all, especially the rise of young players. Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden – these are a new generation of players who have excelled in the league and have rarely integrated quickly in the national team. However, England's tactical execution in the game still needs to be further run-in. Is Southgate's counter-attacking tactics suited to different types of opponents? This has always been a point of contention among fans.
The strong rise of the Swiss team
Switzerland, once a "mid-table European team", has made rapid progress in recent years. The performances in the group stage have already shown their quality, and beating Italy has given them a boost of confidence. The goals of Freuler and Vargas showed the versatility of the Swiss team's attack. Their defence was no slouch either, with Donnarumma being breached twice for a reason.
Switzerland's performance in the quarter-finals will determine whether they can continue to go further. In the face of strong opponents, they need to stay calm and continue to play as a team. After all, football is not a one-man game, teamwork is the key to success.
A potential threat from the Netherlands
The Netherlands, a team with a glorious history, have also performed well in recent years. In the group stage, they showed strong offensive firepower and were relatively solid defensively. If England and the Netherlands meet in the following fixtures, it will be a close matchup. Both teams have young players in place and the pace and excitement of the game will be very high.
Austria's dark horse potential
Although Austria is not as famous as Italy, England and the Netherlands, their strength should not be underestimated. In the group stage, their tactical execution and individual ability of the players were quite good. If they can continue to do so, it is not impossible to cause an upset in the knockout rounds.
Psychological warfare for the England team
For England, psychological warfare is just as important. The defeat in the last European Championship final left a deep impression on both the team and the fans. How to overcome the psychological pressure and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past this time is a problem that Southgate and his disciples need to solve. Luckily, England's young players have a more positive mentality and their fighting spirit will be the driving force behind the team.
The anticipation and support of the fans
England fans have always been a strong backing of the team. Win or lose, they are supporting the team in their own way. In this European Cup, fans are looking forward to witnessing the glory moments of the England team. Football is not only a contest on the field, but also a heart-to-heart exchange. The support of the fans may be the driving force for the England team to move forward.
Conclusion: Can England make history?
With Italy out of the tournament, England look like they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But there is never an absolute winner in football, and any team can break out at a crucial moment. All England need to do is keep calm, give it their all and try to win every game.
When we look back at this European Championship, there are surprises and surprises. The upset exit of the Italian team has shown us the charm and unpredictability of football. And can England seize this opportunity to rewrite history? We'll see. That's the charm of football, every game is a new beginning. Let's look forward to more surprises and touches from the England team in the next games.