All three EURO champions since 2016 were eliminated in the round of 16 in the next tournament.
The comprehensive defeat against Switzerland made Italy the former EURO champion right from the first knockout round.
Since the EURO expanded from 16 to 24 teams in 2016, all three defending champions have been eliminated in the round of 16.
After two consecutive EURO championships in 2008 and 2012, Spain lost to Italy in the round of 16 of EURO 2016.
Tournament champions in 2016, Portugal suffered a bitter 0-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 of EURO 2021.
At the EURO in Germany, Italy - the team that won the EURO 2020 championship - also had to say goodbye to the tournament early after losing to Switzerland.
According to Opta, this is the first time in history that Italy has lost two consecutive matches in a EURO, counting only 90 minutes. In 2008, the “Azzurri” lost one match in the group stage and were eliminated by Spain after a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the humiliating defeat, Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma apologized to the fans: "We must take responsibility. Italy played below their strength. We had to accept defeat and reluctantly admit that Switzerland had played a great game. Italy should have done better."
Meanwhile, Switzerland has won tickets to the quarterfinals of two consecutive EURO tournaments for the first time in history. Previously, they participated in 4 EURO tournaments and were eliminated in the group stage 3 times.