Switzerland v Italy LIVE: Final score and result as Ruben Vargas goal knocks champions out of Euro 2024
Switzerland 2-0 Italy: Goals from Freuler and Vargas ensure Italy’s title defence ends in the first knockout round
Italy, the reigning European champions, are out of Euro 2024 after a shockingly poor performance saw them beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in Berlin.
From the start the Swiss dominated. They controlled possession, pressed high and turned the ball over inside Italy’s half regularly. However, there seemed to be a missing ingredient for them as it took 24 minutes for Breel Embolo to draw the first save out of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Yet when the deadlock was broken, Remo Freuler making a run from deep to collect the ball and smoke it past the goalkeeper from inside the box, Switzerland never looked back.
Ruben Vargas added an all important second goal just 27 seconds into the second half with a curling screamer and when Granit Xhaka leading from the middle of the pitch they stopped Italy from gaining a foothold to mount a response.
Relive the latest action from Switzerland vs Italy below.
Switzerland 0-0 Italy
21 mins: Switzerland are patient in possession and manage to work it up the pitch. Embolo is given the ball by Xhaka and plays it across to Dan Ndoye hoping for a one-two.
Embolo looks to burst into the box but Italy are strong defensively and recover the ball before he gets to it.
Switzerland 0-0 Italy
18 mins: Federico Chiesa helps Italy up the pitch before leaving the ball to Nicolo Fagioli. He threads a pass over to the enterprising Bryan Cristante whose low pass into the box wins a corner.
Switzerland defend is well enough.
Switzerland 0-0 Italy
15 mins: Michel Aebischer curls a free kick into the box but it’s too close to Gianluigi Donnarumma who plucks it out of the air without too much trouble.
Now there’s time for a bit of Italian possession.
Switzerland 0-0 Italy
12 mins: Nicolo Barella has gone down for Italy and looks to have pulled a hamstring. He hobbles off the pitch as he team turn over the ball and look the counter attack.
After their foray forward is stopped, Barella jogs back onto the pitch so the knock doesn’t seem too bad.
Granit Xhaka then floats a diagonal ball into the Italy penalty area. Breel Embolo is the target and the forward manages to get to the ball but he’s on the stretch and can’t control it cleanly.
Switzerland 0-0 Italy
9 mins: Italy are defending deep and allowing Switzerland to have the ball. The Swiss look slightly unnerved to be in possession for so long but are looking to make runs into small gaps.
Ricardo Rodriguez comes out of the defence and drives forward but he loses the ball just as he gets into the box.
Switzerland 0-0 Italy
6 mins: These opening minutes have all belonged to Switzerland. Ruben Vargas is sent the ball and looks to come down the left wing. He takes on Giovanni Di Lorenzo and skips around the defender before whipping a cross into the box.
Italy’s centre-backs deal with the ball but these are positive signs for Switzerland.
Switzerland 0-0 Italy
3 mins: The corner ball is whipped into the middle and it’s no surprise that Italy have everyone back to defend it. The cross comes over to Gianluca Mancini who strongly nods it away from the danger zone.
Kick off! Switzerland 0-0 Italy
Switzerland kick off the knockout stages and work the ball over to the right sided defender, Fabian Schar.
He lifts a long ball down the right side of the pitch and finds Breel Embolo who brings the ball into the box and helps the Swiss win the first corner of the game.
Switzerland vs Italy
The teams make their way out onto the pitch in Berlin.
This is the first of the knockout matches and there are good feelings around Switzerland who have played so far in this tournament. Italy seem like a side still transitioning into an experienced group but they are stubborn and know how to win.
Can Switzerland shock the Italians?
Kick off is up next...
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