On the eve of the Italian national team's preparation for the second round of the UEFA Nations League group stage against Israel, head coach Roberto Spalletti attended a press conference to express his views and preparations for the upcoming match. He emphasized that despite the victory over the mighty French team in the previous round, the team needs to remain humble and focused, and not to be taken lightly.
Spalletti began by affirming Arrigo Sacchi's view that the victory against France was not enough to make the Italian team complacent. He reminded his players that the upcoming match against Israel will be a brand new challenge that will require the same level of preparation and focus. In particular, he noted that Friday's victory would be difficult to replicate, as each game has its own unique tactics and opponent characteristics.
In terms of the squad, Spalletti revealed that there will be a rotation of three to five players to deal with player fatigue and injuries. Carafiore was unavailable for some reason, but the team is in good shape overall, especially Tornari's return has injected new energy into the team. Spalletti spoke highly of Tonali's ability and attitude and considered him an indispensable member of the team.
Looking back at the past three years, when Italy failed to reach the World Cup after winning the European Cup, Spalletti said that the team needed to constantly adapt and change to meet the challenges of different times. He emphasized that although Italian soccer may not have technical players in the traditional sense, the team has many players who are able to adapt to a variety of tactics and are full of emotion and sacrifice. This team spirit is the key for the team to overcome difficulties.
Speaking about specific players, Spalletti confirmed that Bastoni will play and expects Fratessi to return to good form in today's training. For the upcoming match against Israel, he believes that the opponents will show strong fighting spirit and desire, but the Italian team is ready and will be at their best.
Finally, Spalletti emphasized the strong will of the team in terms of character, running and spirit. He believes that by working together as a team and trusting each other, the Italian team will be able to perform at their best in the tournament and continue to move forward in the UEFA Europa League journey.
