Good afternoon! Thank you for joining Sports Mole for today's Saturday showdown between two neighbouring nations intent on reaching the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

Italy and Switzerland meet at the iconic Olympiastadion, having played out some significant matches over the past three years - most notably, the Azzurri's 3-0 success at the delayed Euro 2020 finals.

Finishing their Group A campaign unbeaten on five points, Switzerland progressed in second place and now take part in the knockout rounds for a sixth consecutive European Championship; meanwhile, Italy managed a haul of four points from games against Albania, Spain and Croatia, with a late draw versus the latter ultimately keeping their defence of the title alive.

Kickoff is less than 30 minutes away, so let's take a look at the team news...

SWITZERLAND: Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Aebischer, Freuler, Xhaka, Rieder; Vargas, Ndoye; Embolo

SUBS: Stergiou, Elvedi, Zakaria, Okafor, Steffen, Mvogo, Zuber, Zesiger, Sierro, Duah, Kobel, Shaqiri, Jashari, Amdouni

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin selects what seems to be an attacking lineup, with suspended wing-back Silvan Widmer replaced by Fabian Rieder, and Ruben Vargas joining Dan Ndoye in support of Breel Embolo up front.

ITALY: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Darmian; Cristante, Fagioli, Barella; Chiesa, Scamacca, El Shaarawy
SUBS: Dimarco, Buongiorno, Gatti, Frattesi, Jorginho, Pellegrini, Raspadori, Vicario, Bellanova, Retegui, Zaccagni, Cambiaso, Folorunsho, Meret

Italy boss Luciano Spalletti brings in Gianluca Mancini for suspended defender Riccardo Calafiori, also introducing Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli and Mancini's Roma teammates Bryan Cristante and Stephan El Shaarawy to the starting XI today.

Matteo Darmian deputises for Federico Dimarco at left-back, as the latter is still struggling with a calf problem. Scamacca beats Retegui to selection up front.

A remarkable moment for El Shaarawy today - and it's been a long time coming!

2 - This is Stephan El Shaarawy's second appearance for Italy at a major competition after EURO 2016 (vs Republic of Ireland) 8 years and 7 days ago; the second largest gap between appearances for an Italian player at major comps after Ciro Ferrara in June 2000 (9Y, 348). Return. — OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) June 29, 2024

Deep into eight minutes of second-half stoppage time, substitute Mattia Zaccagni stole a precious point by scoring Italy's equaliser against Croatia, but he's not rewarded with a start in the last 16. As it turned out, the Azzurri would have been eliminated if they had ended up with just three points and a negative goal difference, so they remain indebted to the Lazio forward for even being in Berlin today.

Following the draw with Germany, Switzerland have now lost only once in their last 13 European Championship matches - that sole setback was against Italy at Euro 2020. However, since winning a World Cup qualifier in 1993, they are winless in 11 games against the Azzurri across all competitions. Can they finally end that trend today?

Right, then. There are only moments until Euro 2024's knockout phase kicks off in the German capital. The national anthems are up next!

Spine-tingling stuff at the Olympiastadion! Both teams have belted out their stirring anthems, and kickoff is now just a few seconds away...

KICKOFF:  With a place in the last eight at stake, Switzerland - clad in all-red, Italy are in their traditional Azzurri blue - kick off this last-16 clash.

Switzerland's early pressure pays off, earning a corner kick. Bastoni nods the set-piece delivery away, though, as Italy's makeshift defence passes its first early test.

Cristante concedes a free-kick for a foul on Aebischer, one of several Serie A players in the Swiss lineup today. Italy have made some six changes to their team today, and so far it's not quite working.

After El Shaarawy narrowly fails to hook a bouncing ball into the six-yard box, he concedes a foul on Ndoye and Switzerland will have a free-kick deep inside their own area. It seems Italy are slowly finding their feet.

With Switzerland probing patiently in midfield, Italy have dropped off a few yards and are sitting perhaps a little too deep. The pressure is relieved, though, when Barella drops to the turf after a challenge by Freuler.

Terrible news for the Azzurri, as midfield mainstay Barella limps off injured, apparently struck down by a muscular problem. They simply cannot afford to lose the Inter Milan man at this stage.

As Barella tentatively returns to the fray, Switzerland push forward again, and Ndoye fails to connect fully with a raking throughball by his captain, Xhaka. That was a decent half-chance from around 10 yards out, but he scuffed it and Donnarumma was left untroubled.

Vargas is down hurt after a late challenge by Di Lorenzo, but after a brief moment of concern he returns to his feet in time to see Aebischer sling the free-kick too far into the box, allowing Donnarumma to safely gather it.

Fagioli's switch of play briefly opens up the Swiss defence, but Cristante's loose touch in the area allows Rodriguez to intervene at the cost of a corner. The set-piece ultimately comes to nothing.

Chiesa can't quite keep the ball in play on the byline, but at least Italy are starting to threaten their opponents. For their part, Switzerland can be content with their start to this contest.

Embolo and Vargas combine on the left, as Italy's defence are caught momentarily out of position; however, the latter's cross is badly mishit and Donnarumma comes out to safely pouch it.

CHANCE!  Apparently recovered from his earlier knock, Barella drops a delightful free kick over the Swiss defence from 25 yards out. However, El Shaarawy scuffs it, having cleverly run clear and been played straight through on Sommer. Great invention, though.

After Vargas beats Di Lorenzo again, then links up with the influential Xhaka in midfield, he lays the ball off to Rieder on the edge of Italy's area. The latter's pass is mishit, though, and a promising attack comes to an end.

SAVE!  Springing Italy's offside trap with a perfectly timed run, Embolo is clear through on goal, with only Donnarumma to beat. He tries to pick out the top corner, but the Azzurri captain again saves his side by leaping to palm it away! Embolo really should've scored there!

CHANCE!  Akanji makes a crucial late block, after Chiesa drifts over to the left flank, then zips inside and shoots low at goal. His angled strike is goalbound, but the Manchester City defender is alert to prod it away from immediate danger.

Switzerland manage to clear their lines from successive Fagioli corners, before racing down the other end. On the counter, Ndoye again eludes his marker, but the Bologna winger's low ball skids across the box and remains untouched.

Excluding shootouts, Switzerland have failed to win any of their seven previous last-16 matches at either the Euros or World Cup outright, progressing to the quarter-finals on just one occasion. They've been marginally the better side so far today, but they could do with a goal to reward their dominance.

CHANCE!  Well known to the Italian team due to his long spell at Torino, Rodriguez races forward down the left and sees some space opening up. He has an ambitious crack at goal, but the ball spins wildly off target.

Switzerland get in behind again: Rieder finds himself on the right byline, with a chance to cut the ball back into the box, but his attempt to cross is pretty awful and allows Donnarumma to easily collect it. Another let-off for the reigning champions.

YELLOW CARD!  Barella is booked for a foul on Rieder, but he has not already had a yellow card at Euro 2024 so is not facing a potential suspension should Italy progress.

GOAL!  SWITZERLAND 1-0 ITALY (FREULER)

GOAL!  Switzerland make the breakthrough! It's been coming. Freuler is the unlikely figure bursting into the box to smash a low shot past Donnarumma, after cushioning a low Vargas pass into his path and firing towards the bottom-right corner. It takes a deflection before nestling in the back of the net!

A slick Swiss move opens the scoring in Berlin:

Switzerland lead Italy! 🇨🇭

Nottingham Forest's Remo Freuler with a crucial goal in Berlin. #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #SUITA pic.twitter.com/YoOiONaZL9 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 29, 2024

On a hot day in the German capital, both teams are glad of a brief break, as Di Lorenzo stays down on the turf after a tackle. He will need some medical attention, as the other players take on both drinks and some tactical instructions.

Fortunately for Spalletti, who has already lost several defenders to injury and suspension this summer, Di Lorenzo is able to continue. The game resumes, with half time fast approaching.

YELLOW CARD!  A clear foul by El Shaarawy results in Italy's second booking of the game. He catches Schar, who limps away from the challenge.

OFF THE POST!  Rieder almost adds a second just before the break! He tries to cleverly catch Donnarumma out at the near post, with a free kick from out wide on the right. However, the Italian captain keeps his side's deficit down by getting a glove on it, and it glances off the right-hand post.

HALF TIME:  SWITZERLAND 1-0 ITALY

Having conceded first for the fourth straight game at Euro 2024, reigning champions Italy are heading out of the tournament as things stand: they trail by a goal to neighbours Switzerland in Berlin. Swiss supremacy was confirmed by Freuler's 37th-minute finish, and it could easily have been worse for the abject Azzurri.

Murat Yakin's men can be content with a first half in which they had some 58% of the possession and produced 10 shots at goal to Italy's single attempt. The Swiss have dominated in almost every metric so far, and another half of such intensity would surely see off their ailing opponents.

No fewer than 15 of Italy's last 26 knockout matches have gone to extra time - including four of the last five - but even getting themselves another 30 minutes looks a long shot at this point. Spalletti must surely be contemplating changes at the break.

KICKOFF:  Having made only one substitution at half time, Italy kick off the second half. Surely things can only get better for the European champions?

SUB: Monday night's hero Zaccagni is sent on for the second half, and the hapless El Sharaawy departs.

GOAL!  SWITZERLAND 2-0 ITALY (VARGAS)

GOAL!  Under 30 seconds into the half, Switzerland extend their advantage! Fagioli carelessly gives the ball away from kick off, allowing the Swiss side to sprint upfield, then Vargas places a brilliant curler into the top-right corner, beating Donnarumma all ends up!

Vargas puts Die Nati one step closer to the quarter-finals:

Just 27 seconds into the second half and Switzerland double their lead 😮#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #SUIITA pic.twitter.com/vh2NIcEPzm

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 29, 2024

Italy seem stunned by that early setback, and they have a huge mountain to climb if they are to recover from here. Everything is going perfectly to plan for Switzerland at the Olympiastadion.

OFF THE POST!  Incredibly, Italy are almost handed a lifeline by a calamitous own goal! A wayward cross into the box is headed aimlessly back towards goal by Schar, who beats Sommer and sees the ball clunk off the right-hand post: a lucky escape!

After a brief spell of possession, the Azzurri are on the back foot again. Whatever they try, it just seems forlorn: Switzerland are at least one step ahead in every aspect of the game. It's not even close.

Cristante tries his luck from distance, but the defender's low shot is comfortably cleared by Akanji, who is always alert to any danger.

YELLOW CARD!  For a foul on Rieder, Mancini receives a booking on his first appearance at these finals. The Azzurri can barely get a foot on the ball, and frustration is starting to creep in.

After cutting inside Darmian once again, Ndoye has an ambitious effort from just outside the area. He sends a wild strike high and wide of the target: the Bologna winger has posed plenty of threat, but he's also lacked a little precision.

Italy's title defence seems set to end in dismal fashion, as they are yet to have a single shot on target today - in fact, they've not yet reached double figures for the entire tournament. Switzerland look safe.

Chiesa's low throughball for Scamacca is loose, ending a rare foray into the Swiss area by the Italian attack. There's been absolutely no chemistry in the final third, and Spalletti looks to be readying more subs on the sideline.

SUB:Having sustained a muscular injury in the first half, Barella is sacrificed; Retegui comes on to partner Scamacca up top.

This time, Rieder's right-wing free kick causes Donnarumma far fewer problems than when he clipped the post during the first half. He curls it straight over a packed penalty area and the crossbar.

Cristante and then Chiesa try to deliver the ball into Switzerland's area, but Die Nati are standing strong. They are less than half an hour away from reaching a second successive Euro quarter-final.

Summing up Italy's dismal day, Chiesa's corner is easily cleared away by the Swiss defence. The reigning champs are not exactly going down swinging, but they have at least improved a little since Retegui came on.

Incidentally, that Vargas goal is the second-fastest ever scored in the second half of any European Championship match - and the quickest since 1984. That two-goal cushion has seen Switzerland coast through the rest of the half.

SUBS: Both Vargas and Rieder are taken off, as Stergiou and Zuber are sent on.

OFF THE POST!  Italy spurn their best chance of a goal! Zaccagni smartly flicks on a throughball by Cristante into the box, and Scamacca is left unmarked at the back post. However, the Atalanta striker is only able to poke his finish against the near post. He had to score there!

SUBS: Desperate for a quick change of fortunes, Spalletti sends Pellegrini and Cambiaso on; Cristante and Darmian make way.

SUBS: Embolo and Ndoye depart, as Sierro and Duah come on to add fresh legs to the tiring Swiss side.

Failing to replicate his fine strike for the opening goal, Freuler hits a half-volley over the crossbar by at least a couple of yards. Still, that wastes more time, as the clock ticks down towards the final whistle.

Once again standing wall-like at the centre of Switzerland's defence, the immaculate Akanji heads away Zaccagni's inswinging cross towards the Swiss six-yard box.

Xhaka slips through substitute Zuber on the left, but the latter's low cross-shot flashes along the six-yard box instead of truly troubling Donnarumma.

After Chiesa's cross is only partly cleared, Zaccagni picks up the loose ball and tees up Pellegrini just outside the area. No stranger to long-range shooting, the Roma midfielder drives an ambitious attempt high over Sommer's crossbar. It's been a quiet shift for the Inter goalkeeper.

SUB:Surely heading out at the last-16 stage of their European title defence, Italy make another late change: Frattesi is introduced for Fagioli.

The red wall of Swiss supporters are celebrating nosily at the Olympiastadion, as their team are set to topple Italy for the first time in three decades and make it into the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

There will be at least two minutes added for stoppages at the end of this second half, but surely victory is already wrapped up for Switzerland - and they fully deserve it.

SUB: Yakin sends on one final sub, as Steffen replaces Aebischer: the latter was one of three Bologna players to feature in today's game - all for Switzerland.

FULL TIME:  SWITZERLAND 2-0 ITALY

Italy's defence of their continental crown is over! Switzerland celebrate a comfortable 2-0 win in Berlin - and a place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Die Nati scored in either half of a dominant display, taking full advantage of a meek showing from an off-colour Azzurri to triumph in their last-16 tie.

After toppling France at this stage three years ago, Switzerland now record a first win over Italy since May 1993, ending a run of 11 games without a win against the Azzurri in all competitions. Freuler and Vargas were on target for Murat Yakin's side, who now march on towards a last-eight game against either England or Slovenia.

We'll depart with our match report from the German capital, and a big 'thank you' for joining us today.

Goodbye!