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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Italy were deservedly dumped out of the ongoing European Championship in Germany after a woeful showing against Switzerland in their round of 16 match. The Italians, who snuck into the knockout stage, suffered a 2-0 loss to Switzerland to plummet out of the competition.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Was it a disappointing result for all Italian soccer lovers? Undoubtedly. Was said outcome unexpected from a number of followers of international soccer? It was not. That’s because, despite winning the previous edition of the tournament, Italian soccer has experienced some roller coaster moments in recent years.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their lowest came in 2018, when they failed to qualify for that year’s Fifa World Cup. It marked the first time in 60 years that they had not made it to the global soccer spectacle. Then four years later, as reigning European champions, they also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This latest display and failure to defend their continental title will join the aforementioned lack of success. Especially due to how poorly they played during the four Euro matches they managed in Germany. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“There is little to be said. We were outplayed from all points of view. We need to clear our heads and understand what we did wrong, then start again with a different attitude,” said Italian midfielder Bryan Cristante after the defeat by the Swiss.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“At the level of organisation there was so much difference, and when there is so much difference, the energy is lost. There is nothing to say and we go home deservedly.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/uefa-euro-2024-round-of-16-switzerland-vs-italy-2/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2255451\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12335339-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1661\" /></a> <em>Switzerland supporters cheer during the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Fight against history</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">History was not backing Italy to defend the title they won by defeating England 3-2 on penalties in the final three years ago.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After all, only Spain (2008 and 2012) have won consecutive European titles. This year’s hosts Germany reached three finals in a row between 1972 and 1980, but won two – which were punctuated by defeat in the 1976 decider.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By being eliminated from the 2024 showpiece, the Italians have joined Spain and Portugal in winning the title and then being defeated in the round of 16 during their title defence.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portugal, the winners of the 2016 tournament, went out at the same stage during the 2020 showpiece. The same is true for Spain in 2016, after they won their third overall title in the continental spectacle in 2012.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, Italy avoided the embarrassment of joining Germany, Denmark and Greece in the hall of shame for champions eliminated in the group phase after beating Albania, losing to Spain and stealing a last-second draw against Croatia to finish second in their group.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, against a determined Switzerland all the team’s group stage flaws were exposed. More importantly, these shortcomings were punished. With their 2-0 victory over the Azzurri, the Swiss snapped an 11-game winless streak against the two-time European champions dating back to May 1993.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The loss also marked the first time the Italians had conceded more than one goal during a World Cup or Euro game in more than a decade. The last time they were so comfortably outclassed was when they were vanquished 4-0 by Spain in the Euro 2012 final.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/uefa-euro-2024-round-of-16-switzerland-vs-italy-4/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2255453\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12335377-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" /></a> <em>Ruben Vargas of Switzerland and his teammates celebrate after winning the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / CLEMENS BILAN)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Not the same</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was a period in soccer history when Italy was one of the most intimidating nations to come up against. They had quality household names all over the pitch, from defence to attack.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These ranged from Paolo Maldini, to Roberto Baggio and Gianluigi Buffon. All names that still send shivers down the spines of rivals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2006 World Cup-winning side had players such as Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Cannavaro, Francesco Totti, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro del Piero and Gianluca Zambrotta – just to name a few.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A casual soccer follower would probably struggle to name one player from the team that was defeated by Switzerland a few days ago. Some might land on the name of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, forward Federico Chiesa or Arsenal midfielder Jorginho. After that it becomes blurry.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, possessing household names is not always a recipe for success. In recent memory, Belgium and England are great examples of this.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/uefa-euro-2024-round-of-16-switzerland-vs-italy-3/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2255452\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12335375-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1466\" /></a> <em>Remo Freuler of Switzerland scores during the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, on 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / FILIP SINGER)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Club influence</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acclaimed Italian coach Fabio Capello hinted that his country’s soccer regression might be due to the fact that Italian clubs such as AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan have not performed impressively in the Uefa Champions League in recent seasons.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last time an Italian side won the Champions League was when José Mourinho masterminded a 2-0 final win for Inter Milan versus Bayern Munich in 2010.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since then, clubs such as Juventus and Inter have managed to reach the final of Europe’s elite club competition. The latest instance was when Inter were vanquished by Manchester City during last year’s final.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Otherwise, Italian clubs have struggled to add to the 12 Champions League gold medals they have won, with only Spain (20) and England (15) being more successful in the premier European club competition.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Europa League, Italian clubs have reached three of the last five finals. Italy’s Atalanta won the 2024 edition of the second-tier European club contest, beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“When there isn’t an AC Milan player in the team and not even a Juventus player in the starting lineup, then an alarm bell must ring. If these clubs don’t have valuable players for the national team, we have a problem,” Capello stated after Italy’s elimination.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If Italian clubs are going far in European competitions, it’s because we are helped by foreign players.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current Italian coach Luciano Spalletti, who replaced Roberto Mancini in August 2023, is more optimistic for the future.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We tried a few things at these finals, but I come away with the notion that I have to change things,” the former Napoli coach added,</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s not as scandalous a result as people will make out. We made it through a tough group. But we didn’t see a team with a personality in terms of fundamentals. And that’s what we have learned from this experience.” </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<i>Daily Maverick's journalism is funded by the contributions of our Maverick Insider members. If you appreciate our work, then join our membership community. Defending Democracy is an everyday effort. Be part of it. <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/?utm_source=dm_website&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=cabinet_announcement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/?utm_source%3Ddm_website%26utm_medium%3Darticle%26utm_campaign%3Dcabinet_announcement&source=gmail&ust=1720012751142000&usg=AOvVaw3rWoFNXtI-T-mseR2TtbAl\">Become a Maverick Insider</a>.</i>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Italy were deservedly dumped out of the ongoing European Championship in Germany after a woeful showing against Switzerland in their round of 16 match. The Italians, who snuck into the knockout stage, suffered a 2-0 loss to Switzerland to plummet out of the competition.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Was it a disappointing result for all Italian soccer lovers? Undoubtedly. Was said outcome unexpected from a number of followers of international soccer? It was not. That’s because, despite winning the previous edition of the tournament, Italian soccer has experienced some roller coaster moments in recent years.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their lowest came in 2018, when they failed to qualify for that year’s Fifa World Cup. It marked the first time in 60 years that they had not made it to the global soccer spectacle. Then four years later, as reigning European champions, they also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This latest display and failure to defend their continental title will join the aforementioned lack of success. Especially due to how poorly they played during the four Euro matches they managed in Germany. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“There is little to be said. We were outplayed from all points of view. We need to clear our heads and understand what we did wrong, then start again with a different attitude,” said Italian midfielder Bryan Cristante after the defeat by the Swiss.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“At the level of organisation there was so much difference, and when there is so much difference, the energy is lost. There is nothing to say and we go home deservedly.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2255451\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/uefa-euro-2024-round-of-16-switzerland-vs-italy-2/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2255451\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12335339-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1661\" /></a> <em>Switzerland supporters cheer during the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Fight against history</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">History was not backing Italy to defend the title they won by defeating England 3-2 on penalties in the final three years ago.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After all, only Spain (2008 and 2012) have won consecutive European titles. This year’s hosts Germany reached three finals in a row between 1972 and 1980, but won two – which were punctuated by defeat in the 1976 decider.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By being eliminated from the 2024 showpiece, the Italians have joined Spain and Portugal in winning the title and then being defeated in the round of 16 during their title defence.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portugal, the winners of the 2016 tournament, went out at the same stage during the 2020 showpiece. The same is true for Spain in 2016, after they won their third overall title in the continental spectacle in 2012.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, Italy avoided the embarrassment of joining Germany, Denmark and Greece in the hall of shame for champions eliminated in the group phase after beating Albania, losing to Spain and stealing a last-second draw against Croatia to finish second in their group.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, against a determined Switzerland all the team’s group stage flaws were exposed. More importantly, these shortcomings were punished. With their 2-0 victory over the Azzurri, the Swiss snapped an 11-game winless streak against the two-time European champions dating back to May 1993.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The loss also marked the first time the Italians had conceded more than one goal during a World Cup or Euro game in more than a decade. The last time they were so comfortably outclassed was when they were vanquished 4-0 by Spain in the Euro 2012 final.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2255453\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/uefa-euro-2024-round-of-16-switzerland-vs-italy-4/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2255453\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12335377-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" /></a> <em>Ruben Vargas of Switzerland and his teammates celebrate after winning the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / CLEMENS BILAN)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Not the same</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was a period in soccer history when Italy was one of the most intimidating nations to come up against. They had quality household names all over the pitch, from defence to attack.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These ranged from Paolo Maldini, to Roberto Baggio and Gianluigi Buffon. All names that still send shivers down the spines of rivals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2006 World Cup-winning side had players such as Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Cannavaro, Francesco Totti, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro del Piero and Gianluca Zambrotta – just to name a few.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A casual soccer follower would probably struggle to name one player from the team that was defeated by Switzerland a few days ago. Some might land on the name of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, forward Federico Chiesa or Arsenal midfielder Jorginho. After that it becomes blurry.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, possessing household names is not always a recipe for success. In recent memory, Belgium and England are great examples of this.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2255452\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/uefa-euro-2024-round-of-16-switzerland-vs-italy-3/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2255452\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12335375-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1466\" /></a> <em>Remo Freuler of Switzerland scores during the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, on 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / FILIP SINGER)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Club influence</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acclaimed Italian coach Fabio Capello hinted that his country’s soccer regression might be due to the fact that Italian clubs such as AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan have not performed impressively in the Uefa Champions League in recent seasons.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last time an Italian side won the Champions League was when José Mourinho masterminded a 2-0 final win for Inter Milan versus Bayern Munich in 2010.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since then, clubs such as Juventus and Inter have managed to reach the final of Europe’s elite club competition. The latest instance was when Inter were vanquished by Manchester City during last year’s final.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Otherwise, Italian clubs have struggled to add to the 12 Champions League gold medals they have won, with only Spain (20) and England (15) being more successful in the premier European club competition.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Europa League, Italian clubs have reached three of the last five finals. Italy’s Atalanta won the 2024 edition of the second-tier European club contest, beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“When there isn’t an AC Milan player in the team and not even a Juventus player in the starting lineup, then an alarm bell must ring. If these clubs don’t have valuable players for the national team, we have a problem,” Capello stated after Italy’s elimination.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If Italian clubs are going far in European competitions, it’s because we are helped by foreign players.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current Italian coach Luciano Spalletti, who replaced Roberto Mancini in August 2023, is more optimistic for the future.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We tried a few things at these finals, but I come away with the notion that I have to change things,” the former Napoli coach added,</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s not as scandalous a result as people will make out. We made it through a tough group. But we didn’t see a team with a personality in terms of fundamentals. And that’s what we have learned from this experience.” </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<i>Daily Maverick's journalism is funded by the contributions of our Maverick Insider members. If you appreciate our work, then join our membership community. Defending Democracy is an everyday effort. Be part of it. <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/?utm_source=dm_website&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=cabinet_announcement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/?utm_source%3Ddm_website%26utm_medium%3Darticle%26utm_campaign%3Dcabinet_announcement&source=gmail&ust=1720012751142000&usg=AOvVaw3rWoFNXtI-T-mseR2TtbAl\">Become a Maverick Insider</a>.</i>",
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Switzerland supporters cheer during the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH)
Ruben Vargas of Switzerland and his teammates celebrate after winning the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / CLEMENS BILAN)
Remo Freuler of Switzerland scores during the Uefa Euro 2024 Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Italy, Berlin, Germany, on 29 June 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / FILIP SINGER)