Italy Head Coach Luciano Spalletti ahead of Croatia’s match, “Now, actions need to speak louder than words”

Italian National Team, UEFA EURO 2024

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Italian Soccer Serie A

Italy Head Coach Luciano Spalletti presented the UEFA EURO 2024 Group Stage Group B Matchday 3 Croatia v Italy.  Spalletti addressed the press on Sunday 23 June 2024. Obviously, the main target is to win the game and keep the object for qualification to the Round of 16.     The fact is that the defeat against Spain was a wakeup call for the Azzurri and sent the alarms to take serious action to remain in the tournament.

Italy at EURO 2024 Crossroads: Croatia Awaits in Leipzig

Spalletti commented, “We made our decisions based on our belief in the strength of the players. During training camps, I witnessed their eagerness to engage and commit. Their readiness, dedication, and enthusiasm translate into their readiness for these pivotal national team encounters.   In recent days, I’ve seen behaviors that I appreciate. I wasn’t pleased with the match against Spain, but we’ve analyzed it, discussed it, and recognized that we took a step back compared to our previous games. Despite the pain, I expect that match to have taught us many lessons. I’m very satisfied with what I see, and our talk about being a great group wasn’t just talk. This team is trustworthy in how they handle themselves day-to-day. Their commitment on the field, taking responsibility for things that go beyond individual players. I’ve been in situations like this before. The players are young, but I see the right attitude to go after things and show the lessons learned. Before Spain, we talked about things we didn’t manage to demonstrate. Now, actions need to speak louder than words”.

Forget about talking about energy conservation between the first and second game: “We didn’t spare any effort. On the contrary, we expended a lot trying to keep up with Spain’s game, but against Albania, it was a completely different match. In both games, we aimed to do the same things. We succeeded in one, not in the other.” Up next is Croatia, who have only earned one point in their first two matches. Many consider them to be at the end of a cycle, but they still have players known for their skill, experience, and quality. “The level is always very high. Any nation can assemble 20 players who understand the game well and have significant experience”.

Spalletti confirms, “Dimarco is ready, with a final check scheduled for tomorrow morning,” indicating potential changes from the squad that started against Albania and Spain. “It’s evident that after such a match, there’s a consideration to make adjustments, as I may have misjudged not acting sooner after assessing the performance. I considered it a risk to make alterations.”

Spalletti also praised Di Lorenzo, who struggled against Nico Williams: “He’s like a son to me; I always find it hard to do without someone of his calibre”. He also comments on Cambiaso “I’ve seen him perform well, despite being thrust into unfamiliar positions. No one directed him to do so. He’s an intelligent player capable of playing multiple roles” and Jorginho “If he hasn’t performed up to par, it’s also contingent on the team, but we have high expectations for him”. Regarding the psychological recovery after the loss to Spain: “If we fail to produce results, we’re out. Psychological recovery is paramount here. We’re dealing with versatile professionals, so we must be pragmatic and take strides forward to earn our roles and merits. Things move quickly. A high-speed train in a station leaves us with just five seconds. Either you board or you’re left behind”.

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Alessandro Bastoni, who scored Italy’s first goal at EURO 2024 against Albania following Bajrami’s early strike, shared his thoughts. “Fear? It’s not a word I like associating with football. Fear is something you feel when diagnosed with an illness. We discussed and analysed what happened against Spain. We understood our mistakes. You can either be discouraged or find motivation and fortunately, football gives us the opportunity for a second chance”.

“We know many players who have more games together than often happens at clubs. The defeat has left us with a lot and has united us even more. When you win, it’s easy to bond, but it’s when you lose that the true value of a person must come out”. Tactically, Spalletti’s approach presents a different defence compared to what Bastoni is used to. From Inter’s three defenders to the four in the national team. “Playing with three or four changes things, but nowadays, football roles matter relatively. It then depends on intelligence and recognizing certain plays at decisive moments”. His defensive partner is Riccardo Calafiori: “I feel comfortable with him; he has immense quality and isn’t afraid to play the ball. He reminds me of what I was doing three or four years ago. We’ve played two games together, and hopefully, this partnership will grow in the future”. Perhaps further in the tournament.


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The Italian team landing in Leipzig on Sunday 23 June 2024

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