Spalletti ‘convinced Italy quality can control France game’ | OneFootball

Luciano Spalletti explains his surprise picks as Italy take on France in the Nations League with only one centre-forward and big changes in midfield. ‘I am convinced we can control the game with our quality.’

It kicks off at Parc des Princes in Paris at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

This is the opening fixture of the Nations League group, which also includes Belgium and Israel.

Spalletti explains Azzurri changes

“We must be ambitious in this job and this type of fixture can give you a short-cut to success,” Spalletti told RAI Sport.

Some of his decisions were rather surprising, for example Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus on the right flank of a 3-5-2 and Lorenzo Pellegrini instead of striker Giacomo Raspadori in support of lone centre-forward Mateo Retegui.

What was the thinking behind this idea of facing France in Paris?

“I think I have a lot of quality in the squad,” assured the Italy coach.

“We might not have the one-on-one runs that can shock the opponents, but we have technical quality, all the players know how to play the ball and start moves. They all know how to stay in the game for 100 minutes without pauses.

“In my view that will be an advantage, because at times France allow you to control the game so they can go on the counter-attack.

“I am convinced that with our quality, we can control the game and keep hold of it.”

Spalletti had already said they would shift to a 3-5-2 formation in future, scrapping the tactical experimentation of the 4-3-3 and Roberto Mancini’s approach to winning EURO 2020.