Italy legend Roberto Baggio's home burgled by armed robbers while watching Spain-Italy Euro 2024 match - Reports
Italy legend Roberto Baggio was reportedly the victim of an armed burglary at his countryside home in Altavilla Vicentina while watching the Azzurri's Euro 2024 clash with Spain on Thursday (June 20). The defending champions went down 1-0.
La Roja dominated proceedings without scoring, thanks to a combination of an inspired Gianluigi Donnarumma and profligate finishing, including hitting the woodwork.
Eventually, Riccardo Calafiori diverted Alvaro Morata's flick-on into his own net 10 minutes into the second period as Luis de la Fuente's side topped the Group of Death with a game to spare and romp into the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, defeat for the Azzurri was compounded by the news of the burglary at Baggio's house. As per Marca (via La Gazzetta dello Sport), five armed men locked up Baggio and his family for over 40 minutes.
The former striker sustained a cut to his forehead, inflicted by the butt of the gun from one of the armed robbers, who fleed with watches, jewellery and money from the Baggio household.
After the assailants left, Baggio broke open the locked door and called the police, later receiving stitches for his wounds in an Arzignano emergency room. As per the aforementioned source, the former striker's secluded villa is located in the midst of a large plot of field and forest.
What's next for Italy at Euro 2024?
Italy opened their title defence at Euro 2024 with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Albania, conceding the fastest-ever goal at the Euros - inside 23 seconds. However, they fought back admirably to take all three points.
Against Spain, though, the Azzurri were second-best for large swathes as they struggled to contain the La Roja onslaught. Following the defeat to the three-time champions, Azzurri boss Spalletti said (as per BBC):
"We were constantly stretched and they caused us problems - beyond what the scoreline suggests, let’s not beat around the bush. We didn’t play a fluid brand of football. When we won the ball back we struggled to keep possession. There was too much of a gulf in sharpness and freshness."
Luciano Spalletti's side next take on Croatia on Monday (June 24) in Leipzig, knowing that they might need a win to stay alive at Euro 2024.