Italy manager Luciano Spalletti speaks with his players after a draw with Croatia at the Euro. Getty Images
He suggested his players needed to improve physically ahead of the knockout rounds.
“Whenever there is a challenge or a 50-50, we don’t win any. It is not a technical question, it comes down to experience, getting into these physical challenges and being willing to do the dirty work. We need to improve on that score.”
Spalletti was, however, pleased his side were able to keep their shape as they ended the game with six attacking players in a desperate search for an equaliser.
“The players who came off the bench were immense, those that played for the last 10 minutes were crucial. They kept that shape despite the fact we were ultra offensive. We knew we could not concede a second or third goal, but we also had to attack.”
He challenged his team to cut out the individual errors that have proved costly in recent games.
“Today we were timid, but we need to do more,” Spalletti said. “We have players who have the quality to play these games on an equal footing, but sometimes we make trivial mistakes.”
Source link : https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/40424599/italy-dirty-work-european-championship-knockouts
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Publish date : 2024-06-24 23:20:32
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