6/29/24
Round of 16 
Switzerland 2 vs. Italy 0

Swiss living it Varg-e as champions crumble

Max Davis, 4 min ago
Reigning European champions Italy were dumped out of Euro 2024 at the Round of 16 stage by a resplendent Switzerland side, with Ruben Vargas contributing twice in a 2-0 triumph that sent them to the quarter-finals for the second successive edition.

Memories of defeating then-world champions France at this stage three years ago injected a surge of optimism into Switzerland’s early endeavours, and the so-called underdogs looked extremely assured in possession. That said, they didn’t turn their momentum into meaningful chances, at least until Breel Embolo called Gianluigi Donnarumma into a smart save just before the 25-minute mark, before Federico Chiesa saw his low shot blocked by Manuel Akanji.

That effort was just about all Italy had to shout about during a dismal first half display, and the Rossocrociati turned up the heat at an already-sweltering Olympiastadion. Shots came in from Fabian Schär and Ricardo Rodriguez, setting the scene for them to grab a deserved lead through Remo Freuler. Having received it from Ruben Vargas in the area, the Bologna man flicked the ball up and volleyed inside Donnarumma’s near stick, setting his side on course to emulate their 2021 heroics.

Donnarumma did well to push Fabian Rieder’s free-kick onto the post on the stroke of HT, but he was powerless to stop Vargas’ stunning curled effort flying into the top corner from the edge of the area just moments after the restart. Despite being distinctly second-best, Italy at least knew that Switzerland had failed to keep a clean sheet in four previous matches, and Gianluca Scamacca prodded against the post as they looked to forge a way back into the tie.

Despite substitutions threatening to pose further threat to the Swiss back line, imperious displays from the likes of Akanji and Schär ensured the outcome was never in doubt. As excellent as Italy were poor, Switzerland cruised to a first victory in nine H2Hs against their southern neighbours, and just a second since they hosted the 1954 World Cup. Luciano Spalletti’s days may well be numbered after such a substandard display in Germany, while either England or Slovakia await Murat Yakin’s men in the final eight.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Remo Freuler (Switzerland)

Switzerland Italy

6/29/24
Round of 16
Germany 2 vs. Denmark 0

Germany singing in the rain to the sound of Musiala

Ryan Fisher, 5 min ago
UEFA Euro 2024 hosts Germany reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time since 2016, as a 2-0 win over Denmark in Dortmund sealed their place in the last eight after a lightning-strewn downpour interrupted play.

One of European football’s great cauldrons, the iconic Signal Iduna Park, was bouncing inside four minutes. Nico Schlotterbeck fired home a towering header from a Toni Kroos cross, but the home crowd’s joy was short-lived, as the officials intervened to disallow the goal for a foul in the build-up. Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was busy in an entirely one-sided opening 20 minutes, keeping out efforts from Joshua Kimmich, Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz and Robert Andrich as Germany created numerous chances from corners.

Eventually, Kasper Hjulmand’s men established a foothold and started to threaten on the counter, with a Christian Eriksen effort blocked by Antonio Rüdiger while Joakim Mæhle fired an effort wide of Manuel Neuer’s near post. A gripping first half was soon interrupted with 10 minutes remaining, as a powerful lightning storm unleashed huge hailstones and left rainwater streaming off the roof of the stadium.

Chances quickly followed after the resumption, with Havertz spurning a glorious chance as his header from six yards was denied by Schmeichel. At the other end, Rasmus Højlund was thwarted by an onrushing Manuel Neuer to leave the tie finely poised ahead of the second half. And Denmark were in dreamland inside the opening three minutes after HT when Joachim Andersen bundled home from close range, but his strike was ruled out after a VAR review for an incredibly marginal offside.

Sensationally, Andersen fell afoul of VAR intervention again just moments later, conceding a penalty after he was adjudged to have handled David Raum’s cross. A rollercoaster sequence got its crescendo as Havertz rolled home from 12 yards, giving Germany a controversial lead with his second strike of the tournament. Having broken the deadlock, the Arsenal forward produced a beautiful piece of skill to surge through on goal soon afterwards, but he missed the target with a chip that drifted wide of Schmeichel’s goal.

Germany would soon get that killer second goal though, as a sumptuous long pass from Schlotterbeck released Jamal Musiala down the left on the three-quarter mark, and the mercurial 21-year-old showed composure beyond his years to slot into the far corner. Denmark faded away from there, and Hjulmand’s men have duly seen their winless record at major tournaments reach eight matches. Germany, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last eight fixtures, and await the winner of Spain vs Georgia in the quarter-finals.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Nico Schlotterbeck (Germany)

Germany Denmark