The “Nati” passes in the first period with Freuler, who enters the Italian defense too easily, another at the very beginning of the second period from Vargas who, too, finds no serious opposition. Italy will have to find itself again and, finally, ask itself the right questions.
Our analysis and the most beautiful photos of the meeting.
Watching this match, this parody of a match, we thought strongly of Croatia, eliminated in the 98th minute by Italy and Zaccagni’s goal. We would have liked so much for Laziale to shoot too high, too hard, not to score and not to eliminate the Croats who, for their part, would have proposed something much different than what we were forced to follow. A collective without soul, without courage, without play, without technique, no determination or tactical intelligence. No excuses, it was hot for everyone, no “yes but they don’t have grueling matches in the league”, the basic block of the “Nati” comes from Bologna…
To put this easy Swiss victory into better perspective, a date: Switzerland had not beaten its southern neighbor since… 1993. The double confrontation in the World Cup qualifiers had ended in two draws, spoiled by two penalties wasted by Jorginho. The first match of the last Euro had seen the heavy fall of the Swiss against this same Italy, 3 to 0. It will be necessary to forget everything, and quickly, but it will especially be necessary to explain this performance, these technical errors (we were forced to watch that…), the lack of understanding of the Swiss game, that of one player especially, Xhaka, good, excellent even, but slow.
Switzerland deserved their qualification in the quarter-finals from the start of the match, their possession of the ball (65%) confirmed it at the half-hour mark, but it is above all the clean sheet of the Italians which explains this gap. Freuler, not followed by the middle of his zone, recovers a ball from the slow (also), very slow Embolo, and deceives Donnarumma who had used his miracles in the previous matches.
At the very beginning of the second half, Vargas enters the area, without being challenged and therefore free to shoot calmly, 2-0. Italy will react, without playing as a team, trying (without believing in it), will find many posts, the first by the deflection of Schär, the second by Scamacca, the executioner of Marseille in the Europa League, which he won with Atalanta. Honestly, they sent a double…
Italy was lucky to play its eighth against Switzerland, a team playing with more intensity and talent would have added a correction to the general failure.
Vincent Brucci
(Photos Agence REUTERS)
In Berlin, Switzerland beats Italy, 2 to 0 (1-0)
Referee Szymon Marciniak
Goal for Switzerland, Freuler (37th), Vargas (46th)
Switzerland: Sommer, Rodriguez, Akanji, Schar, Ndoye, Aebischer, Freuler, Xhaka©, Embolo, Rieder and Vargas
Italy: Donnarumma©, Di Lorenzo, Darmian, Mancini, Bastoni, Fagioli, Cristante, Barella, Scamacca, Chiesa and El Shaarawy
: Switzerland eliminates an Italy in a state of general bankruptcy){kind=link}