The Squadra Azzurri experienced one of the worst tournaments in recent years. If it weren’t for Mattia Zaccagni’s goal in the 98th minute of the game against the Croatians (1-1) in the last group game, Luciano Spalletti’s team could have missed out on the playoffs. With great difficulty, the Italians made it to the next round, but it was obvious to everyone: you won’t get very far with a game like that.
Spalletti was also nervous. The experienced coach understood perfectly well that things were not going so well for his team. Hence his crises in press conferences and harsh statements in the media. Only a miracle could help Italy defend the title it won three years ago in London. However, this did not happen. And this is only natural.
“This is the worst team in our history. Slow, clumsy, has no game or heart,” the Italian media wrote after being eliminated from the tournament.
Switzerland did not allow anything to create the Squadra Azzurre. The Italian attack seemed lackluster and indecisive. There is no leader like Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Baggio were in their time. Perhaps this is the main problem of Spalletti’s team: it does not have a superstar who can change the course of the match on his own. Spalletti himself admits it.
– We don’t have many fast and high-quality footballers. It takes more time to build something,” Luciano said.
After losing to the “Red Crusaders”, as Switzerland is also known, the Italians failed to reach the quarter-finals of the European Championship for the first time since 2004. One of the most prestigious teams in the world has only one trophy in 18 years: the 2020 European Championship title. It is possible that after the failure in the current tournament, Spalletti will be fired.
-If we talk about my future, the responsibility always lies with the coach. We are in constant contact with the president of the football federation, he has always treated me with respect. Let’s see what happens next,” Spalletti said. – In today’s match the difference was in the rhythm: Italy acted too slowly. The boys were not in the best shape and with such a high temperature it was especially difficult for them.
It is no wonder that the Italian national team is mercilessly criticised at home. You only have to read the local media to understand that Spalletti and his players have clearly failed at the European Championship.
– The team’s adventures end in the worst possible way. This Italy is perhaps the weakest team in the history of performances in major international competitions: slow and clumsy. He gave himself to Switzerland from the beginning and deservedly was left with nothing, writes Tuttosport.
La Repubblica was the harshest: “The current champions, goodbye. The Olympiastadion in Berlin became the scene of the farewell of one of the ugliest teams in recent times, even more so than the one that tied twice against Switzerland in the World Cup qualifying phase.” 2022 in Qatar.”
For its part, Il Fatto Quotidiano blames Spalletti for the failure at Euro 2024: “For those who have already lived through two national apocalypses (absence from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups), it seems difficult to surprise them with anything. The defeat against Switzerland is one of the black pages in the history of our football. It is not so much about the result: there have been worse things, Spalletti’s team has no game and no heart.
A funny moment: in the match between Italy and Switzerland, specialists who once worked in Russia faced each other. And it turned out that Spalletti, who won many trophies with Zenit, lost to Murat Yakin, who failed at Spartak. The period in Moscow did not weaken Yakin’s confidence at all: he led Switzerland to the quarterfinals of the Euro Cup for the second time in a row. And two years ago, Murat’s team also reached the World Cup playoffs.
– Yes, we won, but the football the team showed is also important. Switzerland dominated the field. In the Euro Cup there are many strong teams. The guys have already convinced everyone that they can fight on equal terms with such giants as Germany and Italy. However, we are focused on ourselves. We don’t want our opponents to distract us. I wouldn’t like to talk about our possibilities, let’s just say this: we have no limits, we intend to go as far as possible,” Yakin emphasized.
Statistics
Switzerland – Italy – 2:0 (1:0).
Sedan. “Olympic Stadium”. Spectators: 68,172 Referee: Marciniak (Poland). Goals scored: Freuler, 37, Vargas, 46. Warnings: Barella, 35, El-Shaarawy, 45, Mancini, 57 (all – Italy).
