This Euro marks the 11th time the defending champions, Italy, have competed in the main event. In the world of football, Italy is undoubtedly a true powerhouse, with four World Cup victories and two European Championship titles. Their renowned solid defense has been the cornerstone of their status as one of the top teams globally.
Notably, in their previous 10 appearances at the European Championship, Italy managed to keep a clean sheet in at least one match in each tournament. In the 1968 Euro, which was Italy’s first appearance, they kept a clean sheet in both the semi-final and the replayed final, contributing to their eventual triumph. In the 2020 Euro, Italy claimed their second title, remaining unbeaten and conceding no goals in the group stage.
In contrast, at this Euro, Italy narrowly advanced from the group stage before being eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16. Much of this can be attributed to their poor defensive display. In the opening group match against the modest Albania team, Italy conceded an early goal. In the second round, a own goal saw them lose 0-1 to Spain. In the last group game, after Modric’s goal, Italy was pushed to the brink before a late equalizer from Candreva saved them from disaster. Finally, in the round of 16, Italy conceded twice against Switzerland, resulting in their elimination. This marked the first time Italy failed to keep a clean sheet in a Euro finals.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that during the 2020 Euro, although Italy lifted the trophy, they conceded in every match from the round of 16 through the final. Coupled with the four consecutive matches conceding goals in this Euro, Italy has now gone eight straight Euro games without keeping a clean sheet. This sets a new record for the most consecutive matches conceding goals in the competition for Italy.
Unprecedented Achievement Missed! Italy Conceded in Every Match at This Euro, Unlike Previous Tournaments. Author:Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced:https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/unprecedented-achievement-missed-italy-conceded-in-every-match-at-this-euro-unlike-previous-tournaments.html