Luciano Spalletti admits Italy must ‘ask yourself questions’ after a shocking performance against Norway in the opening World Cup qualifier and hints the FIGC might want to sack him.
This was a disastrous start to the World Cup qualifying campaign, as the Azzurri were already 3-0 down by half-time in Oslo to goals from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland.
“It can be explained with the way the game went. We conceded the first goal that was avoidable, then in the open spaces, they had a couple of individual moves that caused us problems,” Spalletti told RAI Sport.
“After that, it was all more difficult.”
Spalletti acknowledges Italy problems
The first and indeed only shot on target was from Lorenzo Lucca in stoppages, which wasn’t even a difficult save. Why was there simply no reaction from the Nazionale, similar to the EURO 2024 debacle against Switzerland?
“After going 2-0 down, they sat back in their own half, it was difficult to find spaces, but above all the lack of players who could take players on in one-on-one situations made the difference.”
Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Norway 3-0 Italy
Only the top team goes through directly to the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, while runners-up enter the play-offs, so this defeat is already a huge blow for qualifying hopes.
Italy missed out on the last two World Cup competitions in 2018 and 2022 by faltering at the play-off stage.
Spalletti was asked if this result and performance puts the entire Italy project in doubt.
“I am the head of this group, it is a squad I chose and so I continue with them. We need to improve in certain aspects, because we cannot give advantages to the opponents by gifting the ball,” replied the coach.
“This is the best group that we evaluated, so we continue with these players.”
Spalletti opens door to dismissal
The Nazionale are back in action on Monday evening when hosting Moldova, so there has got to be the hope that they can start to get some points on the board in Reggio Emilia.
When speaking to Sky Sport Italia moments later, Spalletti hinted that perhaps he could open himself up to a resignation or dismissal.
“This is not who we are, because in terms of individuals, we can do more, but you can also see this is a difficult moment. A few things did happen to us, but this is the squad I chose and will continue with,” added the CT.
“I need to talk to President Gravina about their intentions, their view on the decision I make. I chose this group because I thought there was quality, but if we are so fragile that we don’t keep an offside trap, we don’t chase down opponents, then there is a lack of confidence. Quality isn’t enough without that.”
Is he feeling worried because the World Cup now seems very far away?
“There are always worries, because after a performance like that, you clearly have to ask yourself questions and realise there are problems, but you have to face them, because there is no other possibility,” concluded Spalletti.
First question should be, “who is our next coach?”
What we have to do is sack you
Get Mancini back. Sack him tonight.
Spalletti is out of his depth. Replace him now before it’s too late! Last summer was the worst performance I have seen from Italy in over 40 years of supporting them and so it continues. Replace him!
There is only one option going forward! he has to be sacked! Italy have gone backwards since he took over!
It’s time to Eff Off Spaletti.
This team was uninspired, flat, an absolute flop. What a waste of talent.
Spalletti need to go along with Bastoni, Udogie, Di lorenzo, Rasperdori, Zapacosta
Get Conte and send Spalletti back to Napoli
I’ve said, many times, that he should have gone after the Euros. Everything was wrong: the terrible communication – he talks so much nonsense, the pretense; the lack of motivation and confidence of the players; tactics – what is his gameplan?? The non-existent attack; his obsession with playing Di Lorenzo at CB, his persistence in playing DiMarco/Udogie when neither can defend….. He has to go!!
Acerbi is happy with his decision
It’s been like this since Euro. They played like All-Stars friendly matches, you know… All-Stars teams that form overnight to play one match, and the player never trained together for more than a few hours. Italy played like they had zero teamwork, like they never trained together as a team. Both defense and offense. It’s hard to watch. Youth teams and school teams played more like a “team” than this Italy.
This man has no shame he is single handedly destroying this team . The sad part is all the best coaches are now taken . Italy need conte to get things back to some normal .
Is Sacchi too old now? we used to be proud of being the best defensive team in the world. Anybody can score on Italy nowadays…it’s so humiliating…O’ Dio….
Angelo, with this, “Everything was wrong: the terrible communication – he talks so much nonsense, the pretense” you hit the nail on head with the problem with Spalletti.
The only discussion needed is how quickly can we get this man out. That is it
once we rid ourselves of Spalletti, then discuss the Serie A reform, every team must field a minimum number of home grown talent and cap number non-italian players.
if we had done this at the first world cup failure we would be sat here with many more options of players to choose from sadly we have to only pick the best from average pool