Live TMW
7.00pm – Third match of the Nations League group stage for Italy Luciano Spallettiwhich after the two away victories against France and Israel hosts Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium. In a few minutes the Italian technical commissioner will speak from the press room of the Olympic Stadium in Rome for the classic pre-match conference. Follow the live text on TUTTOmercatoWEB
7.20pm – Luciano Spalletti’s press conference has begun
What can you tell us about Calafiori?
“He is good at being found at the right point even if he does the same things as the others. This personality has helped him, he has taken on important responsibilities. He has maturity even though he is young, he has gained a lot of experience even in other sectors of the pitch and this completes him. It’s always good to have a team order and balance, he must do what he’s supposed to do well then he can add something.”
Do we need a player like Pellegrini or Raspadori as a second striker tomorrow?
“It changes little, in that position we have players who know how to relate to the team. We want players who know how to do many things in that area of the pitch, perhaps in this case Pellegrini has the same possibility as Raspadori to create that superiority that will allow us to manage a piece of the match. Pellegrini will start tomorrow.”
Are you seeing the same malice in the eyes as seen a month ago with France?
“I saw the same things, actually strengthened in the guys who came back. This group gives us hope for what our future will be, especially for the way of being together, being friends and wanting to help each other in doing things. This can be seen even in normal life, I am confident in what these guys can do. I found them full of energy and desire. I got to thinking, there are weeks that pass in an instant and hours that never pass in football but I have the feeling of dealing with guys who want to make their qualities known.”
How do you explain that Belgium never beats Italy in official matches?
“I don’t know the answer, it’s too difficult and complex a question for me.”
Are you looking for the third clue tomorrow to prove the rebirth of our national team?
“It’s a fundamental match for our future, I expect it to be faced with the same courage seen in the last few matches. The sensations are positive given the training sessions”.
Is the World Cup felt like an absolute obligation?
“My absolute moral obligation is to do very well every time I am in Coverciano or even at home to think about how to follow up on what we are seeing now. We feel the world championship is an obligation, it is what has determined our history and made many people are happy. Taking part is really important for us, it shouldn’t become an obsession or a pressure, with this group we need to gain some experiences, but we are on the right path.”
Why do you see this quality in Belgium?
“Because I know the players very well like everyone else, you have players who play in the strongest teams in Europe. The biggest danger is speed in the offensive department and Belgium has technical qualities and muscular speed, they have players who in the quality rankings The players are the strongest there are. There is a coach I know who is very good, he is sixth in the FIFA rankings, there are only giants in front of him, I don’t have the chance to see things. Tomorrow we will have to be very careful, we must know that the opponent is very strong”.