Vargas stunner guides Swiss into last-eight by knocking out holders Italy

Switzerland cruised through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a comfortable victory over an insipid Italy side in Berlin.

Luciano Spalletti made six changes from the Italians’ fortunate group-stage draw against Croatia, and the contrast between their disjointed side and the settled Swiss, with their one enforced move bringing Ruben Vargas in for Silvan Widmer, played out on the field.

The ball lived in the Italian half before the interval and but for a couple of saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma from Breel Embolo and Fabian Rieder, the Swiss could have had more to show at the break than the Remo Freuler’s goal to open the scoring.

It was expected Italy would come out of the box with desire and purpose after a dressing room dressing down, but instead they gave the ball away from the kick off.

Switzerland waltzed down the field before Vargas, given a wealth of space in the box, doubled the lead. The reigning champions did not look like getting back into the game from this point onwards, though the Swiss post was struck twice, once from an attempted clearance from Fabian Schar and another from Gianluca Scamacca – whose effort would have been ruled out by offside.

Murat Yakin’s side will face the winner of England and Slovakia in Dusseldorf next Saturday.

Of course it is only three years since the delayed final was played but Azzurri fans who waited 24 years from 1982 to 2006, and then another 15 years until Wembley 2021, will feel they are in for a similar drought now.

Put simply, there is no sign of the talent to take themselves to the business end of a major tournament.

With the exception of Donnarumma and Nicolo Barella probably the only two who would get into the Swiss side – maybe Federico Chiesa if he can enjoy a run of fitness – they have precious little to build a future side around.

Their talent in terms of ball players and defenders, especially a no-nonsense Giorgio Chiellini-type, must be at an all-time low.

Luciano Spalletti will get a lot of criticism and making five unenforced changes, along with replacing the suspended Riccardo Califiori, will deservedly come under fire.

The issues appear more regards to the development of players and will take a long time to address.

He was left out of the starting line up against Germany but is likely to stay in the line up for the quarter-final.

In attack he was always dangerous, creating the opportunity for the opener with a fizzing ball into Freuler’s feet and then was precision perfect with a curler just inside the top corner.

In addition to this, he and Fabian Rieder worked so hard getting back down the field to deny Italy space to create from the flanks.

It was no surprise he was replaced with 20 minutes remaining but by then he had more than fulfilled his remit.

Switzerland: Sommer 6; Schar 7, Akanji 8, Rodriguez 7; Ndoye 7, Freuler 7, Xhaka 8, Aebischer 8; Rieder 8; Vargas 9; Embolo 6.

Subs: Zuber 6, Stergiou 6, Sierro 6, Duah 6, Steffen.

Italy: Donnarumma 7; Di Lorenzo 5, Mancini 6, Bastoni 6, Darmian 4; Cristante 5, Fagioli 5, Barella 6; Chiesa 6, El Shaarawy 6; Scamacca 4.

Subs: Zaccagni 7, Retegui 6, Cambiaso 6, Pellegrini 6, Frattresi.

25′EMBOLO DENIED BY DONNARUMMA! He breaks the offside trap with a fine diagonal ball in from the left flank from Aebsicher but his curling effort aimed for the far corner is parried away

37′ GOAL! SWITZERLAND (FREULER) 1-0 ITALY! You cannot say this wasn’t deserved. Freuler burst into the box and brought down the driven lateral pass from Vargas with his right foot and then shot powerfully low with his left.It gets a slight deflection off Mancini and though Donnarumma gets a leg to it, but could not keep it out.

45+1′RIEDER NOT FAR AWAY FROM SNEAKING SHOT INSIDE POST! Donnarumma had to scramble across his line and dive full length to stop Rieder’s inswinging effort from a free kick on the right flank ending inside his near post.

46′ GOAL! SWITZERLAND (VARGAS) 2-0 ITALY After being gifted the ball soon after the kick off they take the ball inside Italy territory and Vargas, given apace and time curls the ball just over Donnarumma’s outstretched arm and into the top corner.

51′ SCHAR HEADS AGAINST POST! An almost nightmare moment from the Newcastle centre half. He half gets his head in the way of a harmless ball into the box from Fagioli and it ricochets towards goal leaving Sommer with no chance – but thankfully for the Swiss, only clips the post.

73′ SCAMACCA OFF THE POST! A fine header from Zaccagni from a dinked ball over the top from Fagioli into the path of the former West Ham striker who hits against the post. Replays show he would have been offside anyway, though the flag did not go up.