The Italian Football Federation this Sunday confirmed coach Luciano Spalletti as head of the country’s team, eliminated on Saturday in the Euro Cup in Germany by losing 2-0 to Switzerland in the round of 16.
“We maintain our confidence in Luciano Spalletti. He must continue his work,” Gabriele Gravina, president of the Federation, told the press at a press conference at the Azzurra base camp in Iserlohn (western Germany).
“We are all responsible, the managers, the players, the coaches… This is a project that will take several years and I think it is unthinkable to abandon it after eight months,” said the head of Italian football.
“There are things that must change and rectify. We have to do a deep reflection. (…). But there is only one way to overcome this situation: through work,” he added.
Despite being the reigning champions, Italy had a disappointing performance at Euro 2024 after only winning one match (2-1 against Albania), drawing in extremis against Croatia and suffering two defeats in which they were clearly outplayed by Switzerland and Spain.
“We have failed because of my selection of the team and my way of directing it. It is never the players’ fault,” Spalletti said on Saturday after the elimination, for which he said he felt “responsible.”
Following his successful spell as coach of Napoli, Spalletti, 65, took over the reins of the Italian national team in August last year, replacing Roberto Mancini.
Their record is seven wins, four draws and three losses.
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2024-06-30 17:46:12
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