In the upcoming 4th round of the UEFA Europa League group stage in the early morning of October 15, Beijing time, Italy will host Israel. Prior to the match, Italian national team head coach Luciano Spalletti attended a press conference and gave detailed answers on the preparation for the match, the lineup arrangement and the opponent's situation.
Speaking about the upcoming match in Udine, Spalletti said, "It's a beautiful place and I had the honor of coaching Udinese at one point in my career. President Pozzo of Udinese was a very strong president who taught me a lot. I'm happy to be at this stadium again, but unfortunately the atmosphere of soccer is not as happy as I would like it to be. I hope that peace will prevail in this land and that soccer will return to pure joy."
For the match itself, Spalletti believes that Israel is a good team that knows how to control the ball, so Italy will have to stay organized and balanced at all times. He revealed that the Italian team will choose the best possible lineup for this purpose, and although some players are affected by yellow cards, he won't change much in this regard. Also, he confirmed that Vicario will play in this match.
Speaking about the team's readiness, Spalletti said, "This team is working on the right path with great commitment. They have a lot of love for the jersey by sweating and making sacrifices. They have shown us good things, but we are also aware that no growth comes with easy steps. We must always repeat what we have done in these last two games because in the world of soccer, one little hiccup can ruin all the good things that have been done before."
As for the specifics in terms of the lineup, Spalletti revealed that Faggioli will have a chance to play and may take the position in front of the defensive midfielders. He believes that Faggioli will have more to offer in this position as he is able to control the ball, knows how to change the direction of the game and has the ability to get away from the stares with ease.
Speaking about his knowledge of Israel, Spalletti said that they have learned every Israeli player in detail and made videos to better analyze the opponent. He believes that Israel will control the ball and their midfielders know how to get out of the defense and make great plays. Therefore, this match will be as tough as the first round.
Finally, Spalletti looked ahead to the upcoming match: "I want the team to be in control of the game, to read the opponents' standings and to create a threat through high-quality, precise sideways passes. We must create an advantage around the ball and then move around the back and front areas without stopping and without giving the opposition a point of reference. I am confident that if we can keep this up, we will be able to achieve good results."
