Cristante admits Switzerland ‘dominated’ Italy at EURO 2024 | OneFootball

Bryan Cristante acknowledged that Italy felt frustrated when seeing ‘such a difference in organisation and playing style’ with Switzerland at EURO 2024. ‘We deserve to go home.’

Nobody in the Azzurri camp can complain about their elimination in the Round of 16, because Switzerland thoroughly deserved the 2-0 victory with goals from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas.

They made numerous changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Croatia at the last minute, including Cristante coming into the midfield, but the same problems remained.

“There’s not much we can save from this performance, we were dominated physically and in terms of organisation,” Cristante told Sky Sport Italia.

“It is too early to come to conclusions, we deservedly are sent home. Now it’s time we clear our heads and start again from next season with a different level of determination and energy.”

Cristante stunned by difference

Luciano Spalletti said the Italy squad looked to be running on empty, lacking sharpness and tempo, which he blamed also on poor fitness levels.

“When you see there’s such a difference in organisation and playing style, it really saps the mental energy from you as well. As I said, we deserve to go home,” added Cristante.

“The intention was very different, but when you are not able to do things against a team that moves the ball so well, it is frustrating. We have to clear our heads and begin again.”

Was there something badly wrong in the fitness training at club or international level to leave the players so visibly drained?

“I don’t know, it’s hard to explain when there’s such a big difference.”

While the Nazionale were vastly out-played by one of the tournament favourites Spain, they really should not have been left in a similar situation when facing Switzerland.