NO WAY YOU'LL BE DRIVEN OUT

Italy boss dubbed Fiat in land of Ferrari but Spalletti told...

- CHARLIE GORDON

CRITICISE our football all you like but don't you dare drag our cars into this.

That was the message from Italy manager Luciano Spalletti, who took exception to a smug Swiss journalist comparing Switzerland to a Ferrari and the Azzurri to a Fiat Panda after a memorable night at Euro 2024.

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

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