The Euros journey continues for the national team and for Gabriele Gravina, who after chairing the Federal Council meeting will return to Germany tomorrow to be alongside coach Luciano Spalletti and the Azzurri on the eve of the round of 16 clash against Switzerland. Zaccagni's goal against Croatia gave Italy a hard-fought and deserved qualification: “That goal, I experienced it as a moment of liberation and great satisfaction for all the lads who I see are applying themselves," declared the federal president at the end of the Federal Council meeting. And the same can be said for Spalletti: “Do I see him calm? Yes, he is very calm. It's Spalletti, he's like that: he knows how to choose the right times to raise the attention levels and, as he himself said, injects the poison he needs. I have seen many coaches in my sporting life and his dedication is surprising: he is a perfectionist, someone who dedicates everything and loves his work."

On Saturday, Italy will return to Berlin and the stadium where they lifted their fourth World Cup 18 years ago. At stake this time is a quarter-final berth in a European Championship, which is throwing up some surprises: "Results are not determined on the basis of the history of a club or a federation," said the federal president. "Results are achieved with projects and work. Our team must make up for some shortcomings with determination, desire and enthusiasm, and above all through everyone working together. We all win together and we all lose together."

In knockout football, it is often that an episode can decide the outcome of a match: “We made a big choice with a big coach. We have extraordinary staff and an organisation that, at least according to what friends and colleagues from other federations tell us, is exemplary: this is a guarantee and can show examples of that, but the fate of a match can change in a second. I live for the result with the utmost serenity, which certainly must be sought after and enthusiasm generated, but I like the idea of ​​the project to follow to achieve certain obtainable results".

This is what has happened with the national youth teams which, down to the FIGC and Club Italia's work and investments, now represents a model for other federations: "In the last five years we are the only ones to have qualified for all the final stages of the European Championships. A month ago, the Under 17s won the European Championship; last year, the Under 19s became European champions and the Under 20s became World Cup runners-up. This says a lot about the project activities we are carrying out."