Italy coach Luciano Spalletti couldn’t be clearer: Play like they did towards Spain and they won’t retain the European Championship.
“They precipitated us issues past what the scoreline suggests and we won’t beat across the bush on that,” Spalletti mentioned after his workforce’s 1-0 loss to the dominant Spanish on Thursday.
It was billed as the primary heavyweight matchup of Euro 2024, however there was an enormous distinction in high quality, as Spalletti identified.
“There was an excessive amount of of a gulf when it comes to sharpness and freshness,” he mentioned, including: “We have been by no means within the sport.”
Spain’s stress had Italy in scramble mode all through the 90 minutes and Spalletti’s facet lastly conceded when the dazzling Nico Williams‘ cross was redirected into the web by Riccardo Calafiori for an personal objective.
The scoreline would have been extra lopsided if it weren’t for Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who turned in a string of saves to maintain his workforce shut.
“We’re indignant,” Donnarumma mentioned after the match. “Let’s use this to encourage ourselves for the following video games, our future is in our palms.”
Spalletti is making an attempt to alter Italy’s enjoying model by pushing his gamers to manage video games extra and dominate possession, quite than depend on defensive power that has characterised the most effective Italy groups down the years.
He is not prepared to surrender on that.
“Everybody would love to repeat Spain,” Spalletti mentioned. “They’ve performed the most effective soccer for the longest time. I have to make my gamers conscious of how necessary this match is as a result of it turns into very difficult should you simply sit deep.
“It’s important to overhaul the idea and mentality of the workforce and simply chase after the ball and cede it to them. However I do not need to play like that. I do not know easy methods to coach how to try this. I am the least-suited particular person to try this so you should play the ball and hold possession.
“And attempt to pay money for the sport and take it by the scruff of the neck. That is the one manner.”
Spalletti partially blamed himself for the loss, which got here 5 days after Italy’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over Albania in Group B.
“Possibly I wanted to offer them extra relaxation,” he mentioned. “In all probability extra days off as a result of we gave them a day and a half [off] and thought that was the precise choice after trying on the GPS knowledge, however there was an excessive amount of of a gulf. We have been continually stretched and by no means capable of squeeze the gaps.”
Italy should keep away from defeat by Croatia on Monday to ensure development within the match, and should take inspiration from Spain.
“When the legs do not work, character and character do not matter,” he added.
