Luciano Spalletti hits back at Euro 2024 reporter for giving Italy the ultimate insult

Luciano Spalletti's side were compared to a Fiat Panda after their defeat to Switzerland (Image: Getty)

Criticise our football all you like, but don’t you dare bring our cars into this.

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti took exception to a smug Swiss journalist comparing Switzerland to a Ferrari and the Azzurri to a Fiat Panda after a memorable night in Berlin

Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas scored in a 2-0 victory as Switzerland advanced to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and dismissed the reigning champions.

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The car comparison kicked Spalletti while he was down, and the former Napoli boss responded: “We have to accept everything, even allusions in bad taste like yours. I understand that you are a person of great irony and quality.”

But he did remain gracious in defeat, adding: “You're right, you were better than us, you deservedly won. We'll try to do better next time, since we didn't manage to make life difficult for Switzerland."

Spalletti’s future was immediately called into question after a dismal performance in Germany’s capital, where Italy managed only one shot on target.

Ruben Vargas notched a goal and an assist against Italy (Image: Getty)

The nation’s FA moved quickly to make things clear as they called an emergency press conference on Sunday afternoon.

“Spalletti has our full trust and we will move forward with him,” confirmed Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation. “We couldn't think of winning the European Championship with guys who have zero caps.

“It is unthinkable to solve problems by abandoning a multi-year project after only eight or nine months of activity. There will be plenty to review and we will reflect deeply on the tournament. We will rise together with work and the strength of our ideas.”

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Italy made a hasty retreat from their Euro 2024 base in Iserlohn to fly back home less than 24 hours after being humbled by the Swiss. They won just one of their four matches at the tournament - a comeback victory over underdogs Albania in the group stages.

Italy’s dismal run in Germany came in sharp contrast to their exploits at the last European Championship, where they beat England in the final three years ago. Former Three Lions boss Fabio Capello was scathing in his assessment of Italy’s performance at the Olympiastadion.

“There was no movement or technique to win the ball back,” he said. “Tactically we tried everything but we saw nothing. They just went to compress spaces and that's it. There is no quality. The team made too many tactical errors.”

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Luciano Spalletti hits back at Euro 2024 reporter for giving Italy the ultimate insult

Luciano Spalletti hits back at Euro 2024 reporter for giving Italy the ultimate insult

Luciano Spalletti hits back at Euro 2024 reporter for giving Italy the ultimate insult

Luciano Spalletti hits back at Euro 2024 reporter for giving Italy the ultimate insult

Luciano Spalletti hits back at Euro 2024 reporter for giving Italy the ultimate insult