Swiss roll lethargic Italy to reach quarterfinals
Holders Italy crashed out of Euro 2024, falling to a limp 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in their last-16 clash in Berlin yesterday.
Three years after lifting the trophy at Wembley, the European champions looked a shadow of the team that emerged to take the title in 2021.
They were comfortably beaten by a Swiss side which advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship for only the second time in its history.
A goal in each half from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas were enough to hand victory to Switzerland, who took full advantage of Italy's lethargy. Switzerland dominated the ball early on and penned Italy into their half.
The opening goal arrived after 37 minutes. Vargas collected the ball wide on the left and picked out Freuler arriving inside the box. He allowed the ball to skip up into the air via a deft first touch before hammering it in at the near post via a slight deflection from Gianluca Mancini.
Italy had been outplayed and within seconds of the restart the score better reflected Switzerland's dominance.
Vargas took possession on the edge of the box and with the defence standing off him he took aim and sent an unstoppable effort spinning beyond goalkeeper Donnarumma's reach and into the top corner, just 27 seconds into the second half.
There was nearly an instant reprieve for
Euro 2024 round of 16: Switzerland 2 Italy 0, Germany 2 Denmark 0.
the holders when Swiss defender Fabian Schar inadvertently headed a cross against his own post under seemingly little pressure.
Gianluca Scamacca also hit a post for Italy from only three yards in a rare foray into the Swiss penalty area, but the holders exited with little resistance.
In Dortmund, a second-half Kai Havertz penalty and a Jamal Musiala goal took hosts Germany past Denmark in a storm-and-VAR-dominated clash.
The 2-0 triumph was a first knockout win in eight years for Germany.
The game was suspended for 30 minutes in the first half as a huge thunderstorm raged over Dortmund, after Germany had most of the early chances.
Defender Joachim Andersen thought he had given Denmark the lead early in the second half, only for VAR to spot a tight offside.
Soon afterwards, on 53 minutes, the same player was adjudged to have handled in the box after a review and Havertz found the corner of the net
Nico Schlotterbeck’s superb long pass released Bayern Munich youngster Musiala on 68 minutes and the mercurial playmaker made no mistake for his third goal of the tournament. - AAP