Luciano Spalletti’s national team is backawaiting the two Nations League matches against Belgium (Thursday in Rome) and Israel (next Monday in Udine). The Italy coach spoke at a press conference from Coverciano talking about various topics: “What test is Belgium? It’s a good test, it’s a strong team. It’s one of the strongest in building the defensive line, they are really strong from the point of view of quality and knowledge of the game. It’s true that Lukaku is missing, but they have people who throw themselves into space who can become even more unpredictable. Lukaku is Lukaku, but sometimes a player who no longer gives references put you in even more trouble. I’ve often enjoyed asking my defenders: is it better to mark Ibrahimovic and Messi? And everyone or almost everyone tells you the physical one because they have the opportunity to touch him, I’ve had the opportunity to know him and he shows of being a coach who has his own ideas, who doesn’t let himself be influenced by some complaints. It will be a tough nut to crack.”
Lukaku has given up on Belgium, Vlahovic on Serbia. But can’t playing so much penalize the national team? Is it a coincidence that we are conceding a few too many goals?
“You have to evaluate individual situations, they have to evaluate them in a profound way. I always think in general that for me the national team is a permanent emotion. It’s too much, that’s fine, but it also seems to be nice for the players, this morning I found them happy. Then you also have to believe the players: Kean was nearby and we had him come to see him and he actually has a bad back, so it’s useless to keep him here, for example, we left him in Turin you leave out, someone else is called: I repeat, individual situations must be evaluated. On defence: it’s true that we conceded goals, but the team was well placed on the pitch in the last few games. I have the urgency to show the Italians that they can be proud of us and for this reason we must demonstrate attachment, desire and availability, as they have done recently”.
What is your opinion on these penalties that are awarded?
“Yesterday I saw Fiorentina-Milan with Rocchi and he made evaluations all the time, he does his job well. It remains difficult for me to get into the work of others: there are managements which, depending on the use, create advantages or difficulties. For now, difficulties are being created and you have to be careful, otherwise you have no margins to see continuity in the game, accepting some contrasts is fine, but there is always an impact it’s the same thing. And the evaluations must be made by the match director and the VAR who reviews the action even at normal speed. I would be curious to be a referee because I would let a lot go.”
Is too many penalties an Italian problem?
“I don’t know… It could be the pressure, the error of judgement: managing the world of football is really tough even for referees.”
Read coach Luciano Spalletti’s full press conference here