Spalletti: ‘Italy must not forget failure, now enjoy football’ | OneFootball

Luciano Spalletti insists Italy ‘must never forget’ their failures, as it keeps them on their toes for games like the Nations League against France. ‘We developed the pleasure of playing football.’

It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday at 19.45 GMT.

Although both teams have already qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals, a point would be enough for the Azzurri to secure top spot in the group and therefore top seed status for the draw.

The Nazionale have won every game in the group except for the 2-2 draw with Belgium, where they had been leading 2-0 and went down to 10 men for Lorenzo Pellegrini’s dismissal.

“We must be a team that shows its quality without too much chatter, just playing good games,” said Spalletti in his press conference.

So much has been said about the shift post-EURO 2024 coming from the change to a 3-5-2 formation, but the coach prefers not to be so single-minded on the system.

“In order to play well nowadays, you need many different players who can interpret the approach, you have to sense the spaces that are then created. Spaces can be modified and when they tighten up, you must increase the quality.

“When you see Real Madrid or Manchester City play, their greatest strength is to repeatedly do the normal things very well. It has to become normal, repeated infinitely, more important than just the single moment of greatness from a champion.”

Spalletti marks 20th Italy match

Luciano Spalletti Italy (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Tomorrow will be Spalletti’s 20th game in charge of Italy and so far he has an average of two points per match.

“I think the only game we got really wrong was against Switzerland,” he said of the EURO 2024 Round of 16 defeat.

“That is something we will use as a reference point. I feel responsible for that defeat, because we tried to do something different. It was one match. Let us also not forget that we played against some very strong opponents.

“Nobody can make me forget that defeat, nor the failure to qualify for the World Cup. In a certain way, it’s good to keep that memory with us, we must remember that if we don’t do things right, that slap is always round the corner.”

If the tactical system isn’t the biggest change since that EURO 2024 debacle, then what did shift?

“We developed the pleasure of playing football, of seeing our teammates do well. At this moment, the most important thing is for the fans to show that we appreciate how much the players care about the jersey, their spirit and effort. These are enormous qualities that deserve to be recognised.”

The rivalry with France goes back a long way, including to the EURO 2000 Final and the 2006 World Cup, while Didier Deschamps had won all three of his first meetings with Italy before the 3-1 loss in Paris back in September.

“It will come naturally to France to aim for victory, but we mustn’t reflect on whether a draw would be enough either. I am sure we will take the initiative and play the game we want, dedicated to all those who show us love,” continued Spalletti.

He is expected to rotate the squad, so Fiorentina striker Moise Kean could step in for Mateo Retegui upfront.

“Fatigue can often be mental just as much as physical. It could be Kean’s game, he is good at being the reference point upfront who then holds up the ball and waits for support to arrive. Daniel Maldini gives the feeling he can create something super easily out of nowhere, that it comes to him naturally,” concluded Spalletti.