The technical commissioner of the Slovakia Francesco Calzona He gave a long interview to the microphones of ‘Radio Rai’. His national team in this European Championship in Germany, just like Italy, was eliminated in the round of 16, even if only in the final seconds England managed to extend the match to extra time and then win with a goal by Kane: “Regardless of the results, we proposed good football. Everyone thought that a small national team like Slovakia would play defensive football. Instead, in our path, both during the qualifiers and at the European Championship, we chose the path of proactive football and we succeeded. There remains the regret for the ending with England, but this is football and we have to accept it. I am very happy with what we have done”.
As an Italian, what do you think Spalletti did wrong?
“I don’t think he made a mistake, it takes time and in the national team there is very little of it to make an impact on your team. The coach came in on the fly, he had little time to shape the team as he likes. The results were not what he hoped for, but it is not easy to chase results and play well in such a short time. We need to have more patience, plan and then we can get out of it. It is not true that there are no talents in Italy. There are, but it takes time. The coach has shown in Naples and in previous experiences that he is a great coach, let’s give him time”.
For Slovakia next Nations League with the goal of the World Cup?
“We want to do well in the Nations League, it can represent a path to the World Cup as it was for many national teams to this European Championship. For us it is always a bit more difficult because we have few replacements compared to the current squad. After the wave of the 1996-97 class, for now we do not have great prospective players. In a small country like Slovakia it is difficult to find 15-20 world-class players. But we can compete, we are going to this competition with great enthusiasm. The team has gained confidence and I am also very happy with what we have done, I am confident for the future: Advice on purchases for the Italians? Marek Rigo and Leo Sauer, the latter owned by Feyenoord”.
Not a spectacular European Championship, too much to play for?
“I think that’s the main reason. There are players who arrive with 60 seasonal games under their belt. They arrive exhausted, then football has become very physical, playing so many games at the highest levels is difficult. Then finding yourself in a tournament like the European Championship where losing a game means compromising all the work is not easy. You play too much, the players struggle to recover physically and especially mentally. The pace is frenetic. You have to seriously think about solutions, you can’t go on like this”.
Napoli to win the Scudetto without cups?
“I think playing once a week is an advantage. Napoli has a good squad, they are buying important players, they have a top-notch coach. I think they have what it takes to get back to fighting for the top positions. Having the week available to work and playing just one game a week can be an advantage.”
Fonseca to Milan, Thiago Motta to Juve, Conte to Napoli: who made the best choice?
“They are three great coaches. I really appreciate Fonseca. Thiago Motta proposed a style of football that I really like, based on possession and rotation. Conte is a certainty. Relationship with a strong personality like De Laurentiis? Maybe I was lucky, I had a calm and frank relationship with the president, we never had any arguments. He informs me a lot, he called me a lot, I also think it’s right that the owners are interested in what the coach does, but in any case he never interfered”.