Another embarrassment for a proud soccer-nation: Italy’s title defense limps away at Euro 2024
Italy's head coach Luciano Spalletti reacts after a round of sixteen match between Switzerland and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Markus Schreiber]
BERLIN (AP) — In the end, 10 months weren’t enough for Italy coach Luciano Spalletti to have the Azzurri playing like his title-winning Napoli team. Italy’s defense of its European Championship title limped to an end on Saturday with a 2-0 loss to Switzerland in the round of 16. It was less of a fight from Italy and more a whimper that that recast its Euro 2020 title win as somewhat of an anomaly. That triumph came sandwiched between two failed attempts to qualify for the World Cup. Spalletti was appointed Italy coach last August after Roberto Mancini suddenly resigned. He says “I probably need to get to know my team a bit better to be able to set things up better.”
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Italy's coach Luciano Spalletti, center, walks between his players after a round of sixteen match between Switzerland and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Robert Michael