Spalletti wants an Italy “that lives up to its history” – Football

The imperative is to win. Luciano Spalletti underlined this on the eve of the decisive match against North Macedonia for qualification for Euro 2024. Federico Chiesa, next to him, nods because “Italy must go to the European Championships”, reiterated the Juventus striker. “You can make two thousand speeches, but then tomorrow you have to go and win and put in a good performance. That’s all that counts, also because the result is often the result of how you play” underlined the coach. This is why he wants an Italy that is “live up to its history”. There is a need for “strong people with a strong character”, Spalletti then added that in these first days of work he had to overturn the call-ups. Also this morning, making up for the unavailability of Alessandro Bastoni (muscle strain) and Gabriele Vicario (fever), quickly calling Gianluca Mancini and Marco Carnesecchi. “But in football we are used to these situations, they can happen. Injuries exist, but I’m happy to see the ball roll when I’m on the sofa at home, so I hope we play more and more – said the coach – I think in the opposite way to the others”. The formation seems to be written, with Raspadori as a false nine and the Berardi-Chiesa pair on his sides. The only doubt seems to be that in defense between Gatti and Buongiorno with the former in the lead, while in midfield we will see Jorginho again, for whom Spalletti immediately praises. “I met him personally in recent days and he made an incredible impression on me. Given his personality and the quality he has, I would expect him to go and get the ball if there was a penalty. I’m sure he wouldn’t hold back” . To win tomorrow “you will need to be willing to do anything – he added – You will need the technical gesture, but also the duel”. Because the 3 points at the Olimpico would allow Italy to then go into the final match against Ukraine “with two results out of three available”. And for this reason another factor could be the Olimpico, whose pre-sale is at 55 thousand spectators. A stadium, among other things, that Spalletti knows well having coached Roma and regardless of the welcome he reserves for him after the dispute with Totti (despite today’s peace), the coach’s words are of love for the facility which hosted him for years as coach of the Giallorossi. First he compares it to a painting, then to a sunset and finally he closes the circle like this: “For me, the full Olimpico is like a rainbow. For all the moments spent here with a wonderful team, where we produced football that carried away the public in also creating new slogans. We achieved very important results, even if we didn’t win many titles, but that football caused an indelible message in the children of the time. That’s another victory.” The success he has been thinking about for days, however, is only the one that could deliver 3 points to Italy tomorrow evening. A match that even the president of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina, would like to play. “I assure you that if I could take the field, I would give my contribution and I would also guarantee the result”, the words of the number one of the Football Federation on the eve of a match which according to Chiesa will be different from the playoff in Palermo which ousted Italy from the World Cup in March 2022. “Even if he remembers her in his emotions”, concluded the Juventus center forward who hopes to be able to change the course of recent history in the challenges against North Macedonia.

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2023-11-16 21:26:09
#Spalletti #Italy #lives #history #Football