Italy failed this Saturday in the round of 16 of Euro 2024, but its coach will not be relieved of his duties. After the elimination against Switzerland (2-0), the transalpine federation announced this Sunday that Luciano Spalletti was kept in his post.
Gabriele Gravina, the president of the Italian federation, supported the 65-year-old coach: “Luciano Spalletti has our trust, keeps our trust, he must continue his work. We are all responsible, managers, players, coaches (…) It is a project over several years, it is unthinkable to abandon a project after eight months.”
” It’s not acceptable “
The former Napoli coach took over from Euro 2021 winner Roberto Mancini last August. He also acknowledged his mistakes: “Yesterday’s match (against Switzerland) showed that we had gone backwards in terms of level, this is not acceptable. This match brought us back to zero, we start from there, I will continue to rejuvenate our group (…) The players did not give me the answers that I expected from them, we need young and new players.
Gabriele Gravina promises that the Nazionale will quickly get back to work: “In 60 days we already have important matches (in the group stage of the League of Nations, notably against France). The Mbappés, the Ronaldos will not flourish in 60 days, but there is talent in Italian football, there is certainly work to be done to promote this talent. We are further than we thought (competition). »
Italy had also failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. “It would be an unimaginable disaster not to participate in a World Cup for the third consecutive time,” admitted Gravina, who ruled out resigning.
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