Friday, December 13, 2024

Furious Italy fans reject Donnarumma apology after feeble Euro 2024 exit

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Italy were well beaten in the last 16 of Euro 2024 by Switzerland and Gianluigi Donnarumma’s attempts to console the travelling Italian fans were not well received in Berlin

Gianluigi Donnarumma attempted to console the Italian fans

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s apology fell on deaf ears as he attempted to console the angry Italian faithful after their Euro 2024 exit.

The Azzurri, who went into the tournament as defending champions, were well beaten by Switzerland in the last 16. They secured a 2-0 success in Berlin with the Italians struggling to fire a shot as their underwhelming time in Germany came to an end.




Italy only won one of their four games, that coming against Albania, and the country’s travelling support were in no mood to accept Donnarumma as he wandered over at the Olympiastadion with his arms aloft, taking responsibility for the nation’s early exit.

The PSG goalkeeper was one of the better performers, but as a leading light opted to walk over to the section of the stadium that housed the Italian fans. He was pictured walking away rather sheepishly though as emotions remain high in the German capital.

“We can only apologise to everyone. It really hurts. We disappointed today and Switzerland deserved to win, so there’s nothing else to say,” he told RAI Sport and Sky Sport Italia. “We struggled throughout the match, other than at the end where they sat a bit deeper and we were able to take the initiative, but we really should’ve done it earlier.

“In the first half we lost the ball too easily, we left them too many spaces, we weren’t pressing properly. It was tough, it is a very difficult game to swallow, but this is how it went and we have to accept that.”

Switzerland scored a goal in either half to take control of their last 16 outing with Italy’s late push ultimately in vain. Luciano Spalletti’s side needed a late goal against Croatia earlier in the week to ensure their progression out of the group stages.

Italy’s defence of their title is over

Italy became the third defending European champion in succession to lose in the last 16 after Spain, in 2016, and Portugal, at Euro 2020, also failed to defend their crown.

Buy England’s Euro 2024 kit

The Three Lions are among the favourites to win this summer’s Euro 2024 tournament and you can get your hands on the brand new Nike home and away kits before the first whistle.

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