Game 38: Switzerland vs Italy live from the Olympiastadion Berlin. Saturday BBC1 5pm

[TM]

5 minutes ago, noikeee said:

Thinking about this, no wonder Italy look so much worse than last Euros. Barella and Chiesa are/were on the pitch but might as well not be because they're awfully out of form, Jorginho has declined and can't get even a spot anymore, Insigne and Spinnazolla are not there. That's all the players that created anything, and they've been replaced by... No one? Plus Calafiori and Di Marco who are two good players at carrying the ball are unavailable for this match. No wonder they couldn't progress the ball through the heavy press in the first half, nor break down a defence now

Jorginho was one of the reasons for me why Italy were able to control games in the last Euros

there's nobody to do that now and Xhaka is Switzerland's controller who has done very well in this tournament after coming off an excellent season for Leverkusen

[Astafjevs]

1 minute ago, Smallen said:

it’s hard to believe that Italy are having to pin their hopes on Scamacca, mind. Surely there’s someone better?

Camarda, but he's only 16. Maybe he won't come good, who knows?

Needs to actually be given minutes first

[Darren Moores Mum]

Shot off target from Chiesa

[noikeee]

Just now, Darren Moores Mum said:

Shot off target from Chiesa

Slightly off target

[CFuller]

"We can play Call of Duty again!!!"

[Lucas]

 Switzerland excellent again. 

[Smallen]

Most convincing performance of the tournament that. Both teams. Equally convincing for different reasons.

Edited June 29 by Smallen

[grff]

Italy were so pathetic. They don't even seem that bothered about losing.

[Lucas]

@Anthrax Dave gets his wish  

[Smallen]

it was those awful suits. 

[Anthrax Dave]

Well deserved win for Switzerland. Italy were abject.

[Orzelek]

Surely someone from the Italian FA must be calling Carlo right now  

[TM]

Just now, Orzelek said:

Surely someone from the Italian FA must be calling Carlo right now  

he'd probably put the phone down based on that

[georginho_juventusygr]

Pathetic. Low energy. Lackluster. Unpassionated. Undetermined. Lost.

[RTHerringbone]

The Swiss were very impressive but I can't recall a worse Italian side in the past 30+ years. Totally devoid of any quality outside of maybe two or three.

[EnterUsernameHere]

Deservedly out. Really, really poor Italy side and have looked it all tournament.

[Haguey]

13 minutes ago, CFuller said:

What the heck happened to Pietro Pellegri?

Got his big move at 16, done nothing since. Quick wiki check says he's scored 11 goals in his career

[craigcwwe]

That was easy for the Swiss. Right from KO they took control of the game. Never troubled. 

Abject performance from the Italians though. No intensity at all, no creativity, load of space all over for the Swiss to play. 

[thefmveteran86]

Should we go through tomorrow, Switzerland will be all over us

[Astafjevs]

Pellegri got loads of injuries too, as well as making poor transfer decisions that also contributed to him not playing and therefore not developing 

[Haguey]

Why is Rio wearing sunglasses

[Haguey]

Micah Richards says he would take Barella 'on a good day'

I should stop hate watching the 'analysis'

[Rob1981]

1 minute ago, Haguey said:

Why is Rio wearing sunglasses

Very much enjoyed him praising Switzerland for being a team and not a collection of individuals. A mere 45 minutes after saying England should be winning games because of all our individuals.

[Haguey]

Just now, Rob1981 said:

Very much enjoyed him praising Switzerland for being a team and not a collection of individuals. A mere 45 minutes after saying England should be winning games because of all our individuals.

It's all coming up Southgate (and Rob1981)

[The Amazing Dale Watkins]

40 minutes ago, Lucas said:

Dunno. Should have stayed at Arsenal though. 

What? So he wouldn't win titles? 

[bestbrother]

Southgate must have been an angel in a previous life, he has literally stumbled on the biggest pot of luck in human history.

[Rob1981]

 

[dafuge]

Southgate's masterplan was deliberately losing the 2020 final to secure that quarter final spot in 2024.

[av3ry]

[Lermon]

there have been clues that Italy have been drab, just thought they would upp their game. Think Switzerland and England could have an even match.

[dafuge]

2 minutes ago, Lermon said:

there have been clues that Italy have been drab, just thought they would upp their game. Think Switzerland and England could have an even match.

Fancy Switzerland's chances against Slovakia though.

Edited June 29 by dafuge

[Lermon]

England will beat Slovakia

[Federico]

We "played" even 1 game more than I expected. A bunch of Sunday league players both technically and mentally, managed by a Sunday league coach. Croatia would have given a more entertaining game.

Disgraceful and shameful performance all along the tournament.

[skybluedave]

What's the sensible conclusion from sensible people in Italy over this? Is Spalletti going to take the blame and lose his job? Or does he get another cycle?

I read Gazzetto and the comments sections on there were just all 'limit number of foreign players in Serie A and/or Primavera squads'. But comment sections are obviously never sensible barometer of sensibilities, but I at least interpreted that as fans consider the issue more the quality of players Italy is producing over the manager

[Astafjevs]

That would be a reasonable conclusion.

Spalletti took over mid-cycle from Mancini. He's had 10 games, plus these 4. Think he deserves a bit longer to show what he can do.

It's a bit like 2010 and Lippi - some of the squad choices were odd, but there was nobody left out where you look at them and think 'yeh that player could have changed it for us'. It's just a poor set of players. Need to wait for a better generation and go again. 

Unfortunately for Spalletti I don't think he'll be the coach to benefit from any better generation, if it arrives 

[GunmaN1905]

Caught up with the game, Italy looked like they didn't think they had a chance from the kick-off.

Their roster obivously lacks quality and epsecially pace, forwards are disgustingly bad, but Spalletti completely ruined even the things that were working before the tournament.

Nonsensical lineup and player roles, midfield absolutely non-existant entire tournament long. Can't even blame CBs that much when everyone went through Italy's midfield like it wasn't there.

They lost to a team with way less individual quality, but a team that's been playing in a system for a decent amount of time, instead of Spalletti going for hail marys every single game with his tactical acrobatics.

As a fan of his, I'm really disappointed, he completely lost the plot this tournament.