by our correspondent
LEIPZIG Although Leipzig offers a more enjoyable city setting and a less unbalanced climate than North Rhine-Westphalia, this evening too, there will be more Leipzig fans in the modern Red Bull Arena. Croatia compared to those in Italy: we are at 25 against 10 thousand, with a capacity of 38 thousand spectators. They are waiting for the real matches, perhaps, an eighth for example. Which Italy must earn right here, where the stadium hides from the city. The inside or (almost) outside is scary, for Lucio it is the first real moment of truth. «Strong men, strong destinies, weak men, weak destinies»: the Shakespearean phrase is often quoted by Spalletti and right here they reminded him of it. Does this Italy have a strong destiny? The near future, perhaps; destiny is certainly in her hands today. Italy needs to find certainties against Croatia, “perhaps – as the coach claims – looking less for beauty”. Against Spain the comparison was merciless, the beautiful, the strong, they were the destiny, Italy had the defects that outweighed the make-up. What we will see at the Red Bull Arena will be the result of what happened in these days in Iserlohn, including tests, comparisons, discussions, admissions of guilt, some raising of tone. We worked more on the psychological aspect, as well as on the tactical one. «I trust these guys», assures the coach, in his opinion the team has understood the lesson.
Italy-Croatia: where to watch it on TV and streaming, timetable and probable lineups
The defeat against Spain hurt the Azzurri, but it would have given them the strength to immediately raise their heads again. «I’m satisfied with what I saw in the players, this is a great group, you can trust them. I liked how the kids participated emotionally. I saw correct behavior, then it’s clear: I didn’t like the match against Spain. We talked about it, we analyzed it and we took a step back compared to what we had seen in the last few games. Genselkirchen taught us a lot, despite having suffered pain because of how it ended. There are matches that make your story small or large. I am convinced that I am dealing with strong players and they are ready to play these challenges. But if we have to compete with the big teams, let’s see how our players should go and play abroad more”, Spalletti said.
Italy, Spalletti: «Ours is a great group»
«YOU WIN OR GO HOME»
A mistake not to make? «I’m more calm when we have the ball and more tense when others have it. It would be a very serious mistake to enter the field thinking that a draw is enough for us to qualify. The train passes, either you take it or it goes away, either you win or you go home.” Lucio trusts everyone but football is cruel, because in the end the future is achieved through painful choices. It takes personality and responsibility. Spalletti likes all this, because as he has often confided to us, “they lead him to happiness”. The choices will be delicate, and also decisive, as they were with Spain. And let’s talk about men and strategy. «The idea of changing something is there, perhaps I was wrong not to do it sooner. Now that a bit of fatigue and rust has been noticed, I can say that we will see something different against Croatia.” Lucio doesn’t trust Dalic’s training. And he doesn’t trust two guys he had at Inter, Brozovic and Perisic, who the Croatian coach is even thinking about excluding in tonight’s match. «They can be decisive, they have everything, a lot of experience and even a few years. We’ll see if we’re more ready to show off our freshness. We have to take them on their liveliness and intensity, they are two great people, as well as excellent footballers. And Croatia is a technical team, to which we have to give the ball little.”
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