“Part ways at the team hotel”, It’s ridiculous” - Fans want Luciano Spalletti sacked for trusting ‘worst player ever’ in Italy's Euro 2024 exit

Fans reacted to Italy boss Luciano Spalletti starting midfielder Nicolo Fagioli in the 2-0 Euro 2024 Round of 16 loss to Switzerland on Saturday (June 29) in Berlin. The 23-year-old was suspended for seven months last year due to placing illegal bets.

Back at the scene of their memorable 2006 FIFA World Cup win on penalties over France, the Azzurri fell behind to a Remo Freuler 37th-minute strike, assisted by Ruben Vargas.

Right after the restart in the German capital, the Swiss were two goals to the good, thanks to Vargas' brilliant curler beating the Azzurri custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma's despairing dive.

Spalletti's charges failed to respond, not managing to find a shot on target till the 73rd minute. Gianluca Scamacca hit the woodwork late on, but the Azzurri's title defence at Euro 2024 ended in a whimper.

Fans were scathing in their assessment of Italy boss Spalletti and his men, with many calling for the gaffer's head. One tweeted:

"Spalletti should not even be allowed on the plane. They should part ways at the team hotel. Fagioli staying on for 87mins is criminal."

Another chimed in:, reckoning there were better options than Fagioli, especially in a knockout game:

"And when u think about the fact that Locatelli was left at home and Cristante and Fagioli are playing. It’s ridiculous. Spaletti has to go."

One fan took a dig at Fagioli's betting suspension:

"Fagioli might be the worst player to ever don the Azzurri shirt. Him being a betting addict didn't help either"

There were similar reactions, with Lazioland tweeting:

"Starting Fagioli after a 6 month suspension together with Cristante in midfield. Di Lorenzo after a horrible season while having Bellanova ready. Mancini instead of Buongiorno. El Shaarawy instead of Zaccagni and leaving Ciro Immobile at home."

SiavouchF was less scathing but was critical, nonetheless, tweeting:

"I believe in second chances and all that but Fagioli going from his suspension to getting the keys of the Italian midfield in an elimination game against Switzerland is one of the strangest decisions I can remember."

Italy's Euro 2024 exit marks the third straight European Championship where the defending champions crashed out in the Round of 16.

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"It hurts to go out like this" - Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after Euro 2024 exit

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at Euro 2024

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was understandably crestfallen with the manner of his team's rather limp end of their title defence.

While the Azzurri were not among the outright favourites to go all the way in Germany this year, they survived a 'group of death' containing Spain and Croatia to reach the Euro 2024 knockouts but stumbled in the first hurdle.

Reflecting on the defeat, Donnarumma admitted that his team were second-best, especially in the first half, and the second goal right after the restart all but ended the game. He told UEFA:

"It hurts to go out like this. We apologise to everyone. They deserved it. We struggled the whole match. In the first half, we lost too many balls.

"It was tough, a very tough match to digest. In the first half, we did badly because they always had the ball. We wanted to start better in the second half, but we conceded a goal straight away instead."

Italy's conqueror Switzerland now move on to a Euro 2024 quarterfinal with last year's finalists England or Slovakia as they seek to reach a major tournament semifinal for the first time.