In the Round of 16 of the European Championship, defending champions Italy were knocked out by Switzerland with a 2-0 defeat. Today, the Oriental Sports Daily published a column stating that the signs of Italy’s football decline had been evident for a while.
The media outlet wrote, is there a clearer indication than failing to qualify for two consecutive World Cups? Looking back, the victory in the 2016 Euros seems like a mere last gasp of past success.
Furthermore, the article highlighted that what was even more unbearable than the result was the process and the performance. Against Switzerland, the players stood in their positions, waiting passively for the ball; it wasn’t a battle, but rather a formation resembling an inspection ceremony.