The Italian Gob: The Euros champions are in danger of early Euro 2024 exit if foul-mouthed boss Luciano Spalletti can’t keep his cool against Switzerland

Barely an hour after Italy had avoided an early exit from Euro 2024 by the narrowest of margins, Luciano Spalletti decided to change course.

The Azzurri coach has always been a testy character, but even by his standards this was particularly sour. Spalletti had objected to suggestions that the switch to a 3-5-2 formation for Monday’s 1-1 draw with Croatia was the result of a ‘pact’ with the players and launched into a foul-mouthed response.

‘How old are you?’ Spalletti asked the reporter, who was 51. ‘You’re 51, so you still have to tinker for another 14 years to get to 65, which is my age. I speak to the players. I use my eyes and ears. What’s the problem? What kind of pact are you talking about?’

Spalletti would have called the journalist to apologize, but it felt like a loss of control just when Italy needed the coach to steady his nerves.

Because no matter how experienced you are, there is nothing like leading your country in a major tournament. Spalletti is one of the best Italian coaches and has played high-pressure games at Roma, Inter Milan and Napoli, where he won the Serie A title for the third time in the club’s history.

But with 60 million pairs of eyes on him, Spalletti is showing signs of cracking under pressure. His outburst will be music to the ears of Switzerland, who can set up a potential quarter-final with England if they knock out the reigning champions in Berlin on Saturday.

Because make no mistake, Italy is afraid of Murat Yakin’s Switzerland. Two draws between these countries — including missed penalties by Italy’s Jorginho in each match — saw the Swiss finish above the Italians in their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Italy was eliminated in the play-offs by North Macedonia and Switzerland reached the round of 16 in the final.

While Italy’s progress through the group in Germany this month was fraught, Switzerland’s was serene. The Swiss followed a comfortable opening win over Hungary with draws against Scotland and Germany.

Their qualification was rarely in doubt, with Italy needing Mattia Zaccagni’s 98th-minute equaliser to secure their passage, without which they would now be at home.

“Italy is a team that never dies,” said Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler. “They are the clear favourites and they should believe that. They beat us 3-0 in the group stage of Euro 2020 but I really believe we learned from that. We went to the World Cup and they stayed home. It will be a special game, one of the best three I have played in my Swiss career.”

Yakin has a clear plan and his players follow his instructions to the letter. Compare that to Spalletti. So confident in his ideas during his club career, Spalletti suddenly seems unsure about the best route to take.

Will he stick with the 3-5-2 that kept Federico Chiesa, Italy’s only proven match-winner, out of the starting lineup? Back to the 4-2-3-1/3-4-2-1 hybrid that performed against Albania but was an embarrassment against Spain? Or come up with yet another system and cross his fingers?

If their team can find a way past Slovakia, most English fans would rather watch Switzerland than Italy. However, if they look a little deeper, Italy might be preferable, given the doubts Spalletti is struggling with.

All is not lost for Italy. They are in the childish half of the draw and they have the mentality and tournament pedigree to come close again in Germany.

Perhaps a performance on Saturday in Berlin – where Italy won the World Cup in 2006 – can provide inspiration. Perhaps more than anything, Italy needs a little relaxation from the coach.