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.
Luciano Spalletti: The Italy manager trying to win Euro 2024 one outburst at a time
If emotions could run understandably high in the aftermath of a 98th-minute equaliser, Spalletti seems to be seeking to win Euro 2024 one outburst at time; waging war with the Italian press – “I am not envious of someone who writes a lovely flowing piece of prose,” he said at one stage in Leipzig – and creating a one-man siege mentality with the perception everyone wants him to fail. Suffice to say, it is not the approach Gareth Southgate or Roberto Martinez will take. Less the ambassador, more a wizened ball of fury, Spalletti collected a caution for his own celebrations of Mattia Zaccagni’s dramatic goal against Croatia.
It was a late reward for one of his earliest decisions. The Lazio winger was brought out of the international wilderness by Spalletti for his first game in charge. His goal against Croatia has set up a shootout against Switzerland for a quarter-final spot. When club football paused for the 2022 World Cup, Spalletti’s Napoli were arguably the best side in Europe. His Italy have not begun Euro 2024 in the same vein, but there is a path to assume that status.
Luciano Spalletti: The Italy manager trying to win Euro 2024 one outburst at a time
There was a point on Monday night, when Luciano Spalletti was mid-rant, when the thought occurred that the famously awkward Aurelio De Laurentiis might not have been the awkward one in their relationship. Or the most awkward one, anyway. The Napoli president has a reputation as such a difficult character that one club who admired Victor Osimhen could not bear the thought of negotiating with De Laurentiis, so did not pursue their interest in the striker. Meanwhile, Spalletti left Napoli in the glow of a Scudetto when his employer triggered an extension to his contract, rather than discussing an improved one.
It created a path that led to Leipzig, to Spalletti being available to take the Italy job when Roberto Mancini left to accept the Saudi millions. He marked qualification for the knockout phase of Euro 2024, his greatest achievement since securing Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years, by lashing out in a press conference. “There is venom coming from all sides, and I inject the venom inside me myself if it doesn’t,” he said at one stage. His venom was such that he then felt the need to call one of his interrogators to apologise. He did it at 2am.
Predicted line-ups
Switzerland XI: Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Elvedi, Freuler, Xhaka, Aebischer; Rieder, Ndoye; Embolo.
Italy XI: Donnaruma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Mancini, Dimarco; Barella, Jorginho, Frattesi; Chiesa, Retegui, Pellegrini.
Early team news
There are no known injury concerns for either side.
Wing-back Silvan Widmer is suspended, so any of Dan Ndoye, Fabian Rieder or Nico Elvedi could fill in. Breel Embolo started against Germany for the first time this tournament, so we could see him line up in attack.
Otherwise, expect to see a similar line-up to the one that started against Germany, with Ndoye, Xhaka and Aebischer all prominent.
Luciano Spalletti made several changes to his starting line-up against Croatia, but another poor performance from the Azzurri showed that none of them really worked.
Lorenzo Pellegrini was brought off at half-time in that match, so it remains to be seen whether he was injured.
Roberto Calafiori is booked, so Gianluca Mancini could come in at centre-back.
Mattia Zaccagni may have earned a starting place after his world class finish for the winner, while Mateo Retegui was enough of a nuisance to suggest he may start over Gianluca Scamacca.
Matteo Darmian put in an uninspired performance, so don’t be surprised to see Spalletti revert to four at the back once more, with Dimarco and Di Lorenzo as full-back.
Giacomo Raspadori was another whose performance never suggested he’d done enough for a starting berth, so expect to see Federico Chiesa return too.
How to watch Switzerland vs Italy on TV?
When is Switzerland v Italy?
The match will kick off at 5pm BST on Saturday 29 June at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
What TV channel is it on?
The match will be shown on BBC One with coverage starting around 4.30pm. The match can also be streamed live online via iPlayer. You can find a full list of which channel is showing each match here.
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How to watch Switzerland vs Italy on TV?
Holders Italy will face Switzerland in the last 16 at Euro 2024 as they look to retain the trophy they won so dramatically at Wembley three years ago.
The Azzurri have had a mixed start to this year’s tournament, with an unconvincing win against Albania foillowed by a resounding loss against Spain and a lucky draw with Croatia that saw a 98th-minute leveller from Mattia Zaccagni take them through to the round of 16.
And Luciano Spalletti’s side will face a well-drilled Switzerland side with plenty of attacking ability in their last-16 tie in Berlin. Murat Yakin’s team, which boast talents including Manuel Akanji, Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo, eased to a 3-1 win over Hungary before drawing with both Scotland and Germany to ensure they advanced in second in Group A.
And so the Olympiadstadion is set for a tie between two evenly matched sides with plenty of history between them – will the holders advance to the quarter-finals, or can the Swiss spring an upset in Berlin?
Switzerland vs Italy
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the first Euro 2024 knockout match between Switzerland and Italy.
Italy scraped through to the knockout stages with a last-gasp equaliser against Croatia, while Switzerland are unbeaten in the tournament so far.
Stay tuned for all the latest build up, team news and coverage of the match in Berlin.
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