Spalletti Vows To Rejuvenate Italy Squad After Euro 2024 Setback

Luciano Spalletti has expressed that Italian fans have yet to witness his full potential as the Azzurri coach. Following confirmation of his continued tenure, the former Napoli manager pledged to rejuvenate Italy's squad. He admitted that the current selection for Euro 2024 did not provide the answers he sought.

Italy's performance was disappointing, culminating in a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland on Saturday. This loss resulted in their exit from the tournament, having secured only one win in four games. Despite this setback, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina reaffirmed the organisation's support for Spalletti on Sunday.

Gravina stated, "We have nothing to hide, but we must continue to take responsibility." He emphasised that it is unrealistic to abandon a multi-year project after just eight or nine months. Gravina highlighted that Spalletti has been with the team for nearly ten months and has not always had all players available.

Spalletti's primary objective is to lead Italy to the 2026 World Cup, especially after failing to qualify for the last two editions. The coach aims to achieve this by infusing new energy into the squad. Italy had one of the youngest squads at Euro 2024, with an average age of 26 years and 348 days at the start of the tournament.

Reflecting on recent performances, Spalletti remarked, "Yesterday's match took us back down to zero and we'll start again from there." He plans to rejuvenate the squad and foster a cohesive group. He noted that he didn't receive satisfactory answers regarding leadership within the team.

The coach acknowledged criticisms about his training methods but defended his approach. "You haven't seen [the best of me] over these 10 months," he said. Spalletti mentioned being told he raised training intensity too much and used motivational stories, which he believes are essential for progress.

Historical Context

The trend of European Championship winners being eliminated in the round of 16 at subsequent tournaments continues. Spain faced this fate at EURO 2016, Portugal at EURO 2020, and now Italy at EURO 2024.

Each of the last three winners of the UEFA European Championship finals have been eliminated in the round of 16 the following tournament – Spain at EURO 2016, Portugal at EURO 2020 and Italy at EURO 2024.

#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/kTqNKYbjsP

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 29, 2024

Spalletti remains determined despite setbacks. "I came in when there was an immediate urgency for results," he said. He acknowledged that while they initially looked promising, they failed to grow during their recent journey.

The coach concluded by stating his readiness to implement necessary changes: "I know what to do and I will put it into practice." His focus remains on building a younger team with renewed energy and strength for future competitions.