In the round of 16 of Euro 2024, Italy lost 2-0 to Switzerland to end the defense of the European Championship.
The Azzurri were the second best team from start to finish at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, playing just four games before heading home. The Swiss team remains in a good position as one of the leading dark horses of the summer and will be expected to cause more trouble after Saturday's excellent performance.
How the game unfolded
Switzerland got off to a great start and narrowly missed the lead. Breel Embolo broke through Italy's offside trap and was slotted home by Michel Ebischer and Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Donnarumma did his best to save and keep the striker out of the net.
In the 37th minute of the game, the Swiss team got the goal they deserved. Ruben Vargas's inside pass found Remo Fruller, who burst into the 18-yard box, and after his first touch, he volleyed in a half-way that went over Donarumma at the near post.
At half-time, Donnarumma pushed Fabian Reid's free-kick to the post and Italy went into the break just one goal behind. But within 30 seconds of the restart, the Swiss team doubled their lead. Vargas managed to find a yard of space and turned and shot from inside the 18-yard box, which he picked into the top corner.
The Italians needed something out of nothing to get back on the pitch and when Fabian Schal headed in his own post cross with little to no pressure, they came close to getting what they wanted. Another space came and went when Mattia Zaccagni headed in for Gianluca Scamacca to shoot from close range, but his shot missed the post. Replays showed that the goal would have been ruled offside either way.
With just two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half, the Italians quickly got out of trouble and they were eliminated. Switzerland will play either England or Slovakia in the quarter-finals.