Coach Spalletti: “We had to go through, now I expect to see the boys more relaxed”
June 29, 2024
In the stadium in which he raised the 2006 World Cupl’Italia hopes to experience another unforgettable night. Even if this time there is no history at stake but ‘only’ a pass to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. After having struggled in the group stage, they advanced thanks to the ring of Zaccagni with just a handful of seconds left in the match against Croatia, the Azzurri return to Berlin 18 years after the final at the Olympiastadion to face the Swisscapable of scaring the hosts Germany in the last match of Group A.
Luciano Spallettistill looking for the right set-up, prepares theyet another revolution. Also due to the disqualification of Calafiori and the absence due to injury of Dimarco. The main novelty concerns the probable use from the 1st minute of Beansin place of Jorginho, in a muscular midfield with Cristante and Barella. Expected the Return of the four-man defence – con Lefties and Sticks (in turn in a run-off with Buongiorno due to a slight fever) in the center and Di Lorenzo and Darmian on the flanks. Church and return in front Scamthe surprise could be El Shaarawy, in a pure 4-3-3, with the man of providence Zaccagni still on the bench.
Coach Spalletti: “We had to get through, now I expect to see the boys more relaxed”
What the coach expects above all, however, is a different attitude from his boys. “We have to do better than what I’ve seen so far, this qualification was very noticeable. There was a difficult draw, it was clear that the players suffered a bit, as I probably suffered too. We had to get through to the next round, now I expect to see them more relaxed – he admitted yesterday at the press conference – The consideration immediately goes to direct confrontation, you cannot go and reason or make calculations which sometimes influence you. You absolutely have to act. We’ll go to the next round if we manage to win this match.”
The air of Berlin could help in this sense. Thanks to the head of the delegation Gigi Buffonyesterday in a storyteller version in recalling the exploits of the Azzurri world champions of 2006. “It made us relive that emotion, we know that we also have this match to honour, we must be at that level – continued Spalletti – We must be very similar to those there to be able to repay them for the joy they gave us.”
He will also be called upon to offer his contribution Gigio Donnarummaone of the few true certainties for Italy in this first phase of the tournament. “There is more awareness, we had a very difficult group, everyone thought we were done for, we gave it our all and we got through it – he highlighted – When you get to the eighth finals you want to get to the end. Did Zaccagni’s goal make us ‘click’? Sure, we are ready, we will give 110%“. In addition to a place in the quarterfinals of the European Championship, there is also the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar to get over once and for all.
