Italy coach Luciano Spalletti’s praised his players for showing a never-say-die attitude in rescuing a point with a 98th-minute equalizer against Croatia to secure a place in the European Championship round-of-16. While Substitute Mattia Zaccagni’s goal earned them a draw, Spalletti acknowledged that there was much room for improvement in their performance.
Spalletti admitted that his team was a bit soft at times during the game and did not play their best football. He mentioned feeling the pressure of such an important game, which led to the team dropping below their minimum standards in the first half. Despite the challenges faced, he believed that the players were gradually improving in the tournament.
The coach highlighted the need for physical improvement, especially when it came to winning challenges and being willing to do the dirty work on the field. Spalletti pointed out that it was not a technical issue but rather a matter of experience and physicality that needed enhancement before the knockout rounds.
Spalletti was pleased with his team’s ability to keep their shape even when pushing for an equalizer with six attacking players on the pitch. He commended the players who came off the bench and those who maintained the team’s structure in the face of an ultra-offensive strategy. The coach emphasized the importance of not conceding more goals while still actively seeking to score.
Despite the team’s resilience, Spalletti called for a reduction in individual errors that have proven costly in recent matches. He acknowledged that while the team showed timidity in their performance against Croatia, they needed to step up their game and do more to secure victories in the tournament.
Overall, Spalletti’s critical assessment of Italy’s performance against Croatia shows his determination to push the team to higher standards in the upcoming matches of the European Championship.
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