If you were looking for a concise summary of Italy’s performance against Switzerland in their Euro 2024 round of 16 clash, “utterly dreadful” would be a strong contender. In a game that evoked painful memories for Italian fans, the Azzurri delivered a performance that was not just disappointing, but alarmingly inept.
Returning to the same Berlin pitch where Italy lifted the World Cup trophy eighteen years prior, the hope was for a resurgence of that past glory. Instead, what transpired was a stark reminder of Italy’s recent struggles on the international stage. To suggest, after that triumphant night in 2006, that Italy would endure two decades without another World Cup knockout game would have seemed ludicrous. However, witnessing Saturday’s match against Switzerland, the reasons for this drought become painfully clear.
This Italian team appeared fundamentally broken. As one frustrated fan aptly put it, there seemed to be no joy, no camaraderie amongst the players. Forget about crafting scoring opportunities; this side looked utterly clueless about how to even escape their own half for extended periods of the game.
Luciano Spalletti, celebrated for his progressive, possession-based tactics that propelled Napoli to Scudetto victory, cut a forlorn figure on the touchline. His ashen face and bewildered expressions spoke volumes, revealing a man seemingly devoid of solutions to reverse the disastrous course of the match.
This bewildered look was a recurring theme from the second half against Croatia. It appeared Spalletti was blindsided by the concept of an opponent pressing his team, a tactic he seemingly hadn’t prepared his players to counter. Italy’s response was simply to crumble, surrendering possession to the Swiss with alarming ease. Defensively, they were consistently out of position, exemplified by Remo Freuler’s unmarked run for Switzerland’s opening goal and the unchallenged space afforded to Ruben Vargas to unleash a stunning strike to double the lead just 27 seconds into the second half.
It wasn’t until the 73rd minute that Italy mustered a shot on target, a weak effort from Mateo Retegui comfortably collected by Yann Sommer. Prior to that, Italy’s most threatening moment was a wayward pass from Nicolo Fagioli that narrowly avoided becoming a comical own goal, saved only by the woodwork. Moments later, a genuinely dangerous ball into the Swiss box found Gianluca Scamacca – Serie A’s top Italian scorer with a modest 12 goals – who inexplicably failed to convert from point-blank range, hitting the post instead.
While the players must shoulder some responsibility for their lackluster performance, the lion’s share of the blame for this Euro 2024 debacle falls squarely on Spalletti’s shoulders. After the initial win against Albania, his decisions were consistently detrimental. He persisted with the 4-2-3-1 formation against Spain, leading to midfield domination by the opposition. A switch to 3-5-2 against Croatia resulted in Italy being pinned back for the majority of the game.
Spalletti made a staggering six changes from the team that barely scraped through against Croatia, yet inexplicably omitted Mattia Zaccagni, the very player who scored the crucial goal in that previous match. Instead, Stephan El Shaarawy, who had not played a single minute in the tournament, was selected, only to be substituted for Zaccagni at halftime. Further changes were delayed until the hour mark, long after it was evident that drastic measures were needed.
Numerous criticisms can be leveled at Spalletti’s management throughout this tournament, none of them positive. One would hope that this disastrous campaign, and particularly this humiliating exit, would serve as a turning point, prompting necessary reforms within Italian football. However, considering the failure of two consecutive World Cup qualifying campaigns to instigate meaningful change, optimism remains scarce.
Further Reflections on Italy’s Euro 2024 Exit:
- The Spalletti Scudetto Mystery: How did Luciano Spalletti orchestrate Napoli’s Scudetto triumph? His tactical approach in the past three weeks bore no resemblance to the dynamic, attacking football that defined Napoli’s success last season.
- Unconvincing Post-Match Excuses: Spalletti’s post-match comments offered little reassurance. While claiming responsibility, he quickly shifted blame, citing player characteristics and his limited tenure after replacing Roberto Mancini.
- Spalletti’s Position Under Scrutiny: Spalletti should seriously consider resigning. Failing that, Gabriele Gravina, the Italian FA president, should dismiss him. Their joint press conference on Sunday inspires a sense of dread that Spalletti will remain in charge.
- Calafiori’s Absence and Defensive Mismanagement: Riccardo Calafiori’s suspension and his ball-playing ability were undoubtedly a loss. However, Spalletti’s decision to replace him with Gianluca Mancini, when Alessandro Buongiorno and Federico Gatti offer superior ball skills, was baffling.
- Chiesa’s Isolated Efforts: The final moments of regular time, with Federico Chiesa throwing his hands up in frustration at the lack of support, perfectly encapsulated Italy’s disjointed play.
- Chiesa’s Lone Spark: Chiesa was a rare bright spot in the starting lineup. He created a decent shooting opportunity in the first half, albeit blocked, and consistently displayed effort and intent.
- Fagioli’s Premature Start: Starting Nicolo Fagioli, given Jorginho’s underwhelming group stage performances, was arguably justifiable. However, Fagioli appeared unprepared for the pressure. Despite flashes of brilliance early on, he became increasingly flustered, and his set-piece deliveries were erratic. While possessing national team potential, this match was likely too demanding given his limited game time post-suspension.
- Retegui’s Positive Impact: Credit to Retegui for injecting energy and making purposeful runs after his introduction as a substitute.
- Oriundo Debate Irony: Amidst ongoing debates about naturalized players, it’s ironic that Retegui, the only “oriundo” on the field, was among the few who demonstrated genuine commitment.
- Sommer’s Encouraging Words: Thanks to Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer for his post-match insistence that Italian football is not in crisis. A welcome attempt to offer some solace.
- Hope for the Future (Perhaps): Despite the current gloom, there is potential for optimism. Italy’s youth teams have achieved success, with U19 and U17 European Championship wins and the U20 team reaching the World Cup final. Talents like Cesare Casadei and Francesco Camarda, award winners in their respective tournaments, could provide the goalscoring prowess Italy has lacked since the era of Totti and Del Piero – provided their development is nurtured effectively, unlike many promising Italian youngsters before them.
