Champions Italy face Switzerland in the Euro 2024 last 16 on Saturday after narrowly advancing from the group stage.
The Azzurri needed a 98th-minute equalizer from the relatively unknown Mattia Zaccagni against Croatia to secure second place in Group B, finishing five points behind group leaders Spain.
Coach Luciano Spalletti said his team deserved to advance but criticized their timid performance in the final group game. He also lashed out at the media and critics, perhaps to distract from his inability to get the two-time winners firing.
Despite his mixed messages, Spalletti claimed his team has been improving throughout the tournament. "Thus far, everything they've done has been getting better, from my perspective," he said.
However, to many, Italy appears unconvincing and a significant downgrade from the team that triumphed at Euro 2020, where they beat Switzerland 3-0 in the group stage.
Notably, Manuel Locatelli and Ciro Immobile, the scorers in that match, along with midfielder Marco Verratti, were left out of the squad by Spalletti. Key defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini have retired, and Juventus forward Federico Chiesa has been far from his best.
Lazio forward Zaccagni, 29, believes his team can step up in the knockout rounds. "Now we're just thinking about preparing for a very important match against Switzerland," he told UEFA's website. "We have always known that the national team often suffers and then comes out in the moments that count. And now we expect just that from ourselves."
Switzerland, coached by Murat Yakin, features several Serie A players, including Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer and Bologna trio Dan Ndoye, Remo Freuler, and Michel Aebischer.
'COMPACT' SWISS’
"We've watched many videos of Switzerland – they are a very compact team and play for each other. It will take a great match to beat them," said Zaccagni.
Italy will be without suspended Riccardo Calafiori, but Zaccagni says he is ready to play despite hurting his ribs during the celebration of his late goal.
Questions remain over Italy's best setup, with Spalletti changing tactics against Croatia, and holding midfielder Jorginho struggling. Striker Mateo Retegui worked hard against Croatia but did not convince, similar to Gianluca Scamacca's performance in their 2-1 win over Albania and 1-0 loss to Spain.
Switzerland, who edged Italy out of the last World Cup qualification, are no longer seen as a favorable opponent. They went through Group A unbeaten, with Germany needing a 92nd-minute goal to secure a 1-1 draw in the final group game.
That draw put Switzerland in second place, placing them in what is considered the easier half of the draw, away from Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, and Belgium.
At Euro 2020, Switzerland knocked out France on penalties in the last 16 before losing to Spain in the quarterfinals. That experience gives them confidence to aim for their best-ever finish by reaching the last eight.
"Regarding the round of 16, we know how to win, but we also know how to lose," Freuler told UEFA. "We need an even better performance than in the three group games. Saturday has to be our best performance in recent years."
The winners will face England or Slovakia in the quarterfinals.