On June 30th, the first round of 16 match in the European Championship saw a surprise as defending champions Italy were eliminated by Switzerland with a 0-2 defeat, ending their campaign in the Round of 16. Notably, since the tournament expanded to 24 teams, all defending champions have fallen in the opening round of the knockout stage.
In the 2016 UEFA Euro, Spain’s “Matadors,” aiming for a third consecutive title, were knocked out in the Round of 16 after a 0-2 loss to Italy.
In the 2021 edition, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, seeking to defend their title, were eliminated in the same round with a 0-1 defeat to Belgium, marking an early end to their title defense.
This year, Italy, the reigning champions, had a bumpy ride in the group stage, securing one win, one draw, and one loss, collecting four points to narrowly advance to the Round of 16. In their Round of 16 encounter, Italy succumbed to Switzerland with a 0-2 loss.
Since the expansion of the European Championship to 24 teams in 2016, the Round of 16 has proven to be a nightmare for defending champions. Spain, Portugal, and Italy, all three, have been eliminated in this stage without scoring a single goal.
The Curse! Since the Euros Expanded, Defending Champions Have All Fallen in the Round of 16 and Scored Zero Goals. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/13304.html
