“We are sorry for not being able to give the fans the joy they deserve.” Thus began the president of the Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina, on the day after Italy’s elimination by Switzerland at the European Football Championships in Germany. “What unfortunately remains is the disappointment of not having been able to demonstrate everything that has been done,” added Gravina, underlining that “we are all responsible”. On the Spalletti issue, however, the FIGC president was clear: “It makes no sense to interrupt a project that is multi-year and has only started eight months ago.”
Gravina: “Disappointment we need to reflect on. Confidence in Spalletti”
In the aftermath of the “blue disaster”, Gravina underlined the “disappointment in the inability to react to objective limits with a different reaction, a disappointment on which we must reflect”, underlining that “yesterday we all reflected together, dividing our responsibility”. Then, regarding coach Luciano Spalletti: “We have faith in him, in sixty days we will be back on the pitch and it makes no sense to think that by changing the project an Mbappè will emerge in two months.”
Gravina: “I’m not running away, politics cannot ask for resignations”
“I do not escape responsibility. Criticism hurts, instrumental criticism linked to a request for resignation. Constructive criticism does not, it must be listened to”, added Gravina. “There is no way that someone can govern our world from the outside, this applies to politics as well as to all the others in asking for the resignation of both Gravina and Spalletti. It does not exist”. And again: “The FIGC elections cannot be held before the Olympics, we will do it at the first available date. Criticism yes, but let’s make it constructive”
see also
Italy out of the European Championships, Spalletti: “Always responsible coach”
Gravina: “It would be a disaster not to reach the 2026 World Cup”
“It would be an unimaginable disaster not to reach the World Cup for the third time in a row,” the president of the Football Federation later declared during the press conference. “I didn’t focus on my desire to continue my path which prevents me from returning home – he added – There are seven components in the world of football, the comparison is fair. We will do all this by removing some waste” .
The Azzurri’s return to Italy
In the meantime, the national team, which returned from Berlin to its headquarters near Dortmund during the night, is preparing to return to Italy, scheduled for 4 pm this afternoon. The national team’s plane will stop in both Rome and Milan depending on the needs of the various players.
