Italy’s coach, Luciano Spalletti, was candid in his assessment: his team’s performance against Spain won’t cut it if they want to retain the European Championship.
The 1-0 loss was a stark reminder of the gulf in quality between the two teams, with Spain dominating possession and dictating the pace of the game. Spalletti acknowledged that his team was outclassed, saying, “We were never in the game.”
Spalletti is attempting to revolutionize Italy’s playing style, shifting from a defensive-minded approach to a more possession-based game. He believes that emulating Spain’s style is the key to success, but it’s a challenging task. “Everyone would love to copy Spain,” he admitted. “They have played the best football for the longest time.”
Spalletti took partial responsibility for the loss, suggesting that he may have pushed his players too hard. “Maybe I needed to give them more rest,” he said. The GPS data suggested that the players were fatigued, and Spalletti acknowledged that he may have made a mistake by not giving them more time off.
Despite the setback, Spalletti remains committed to his vision of a more possession-based Italy team. He knows it won’t be easy, but he’s willing to take the risk. “You have to overhaul the concept and mentality of the team,” he said. “You need to play the ball and keep possession. That’s the only way.”