Another round, another challenge. The national team is gearing up for the Nations League and the upcoming double-header against France and Israel, which will be the Azzurri’s first fixtures of the season. This afternoon in Coverciano, they will start preparing for the match against the French in Paris on Friday. As usual, the training camp kicked off with a press conference from head coach Luciano Spalletti, who is ready to turn the page a little over two months after the defeat to Switzerland in the Euro 2024 Round of 16.

“I had a very tough summer,” Spalletti began, meeting with journalists. “The discussion always came back to that. There was talk of a ‘European failure,’ even though a more accurate analysis was needed. The match against Switzerland was particularly painful due to the team’s attitude, the sense of surrender, and the lack of respect for our history. I’ve been doing this job for thirty years, and I can’t recall a team of mine that didn’t fight like that one did”.

Spalletti took full responsibility: “I believe that what happens around me is entirely my fault. The players are relieved of these responsibilities, both those here and those not called up. I had to make choices, including considering the players’ ages. I think it’s time to do something different. Maybe at the Euros, I put too much responsibility on the players. Now, I aim to create a new group, reducing the pressure on the players and helping them appreciate the honour of wearing the national team shirt”.

THREE AT THE BACK AND A SHRUNKEN SQUAD. For a fresh start, three is the perfect number. Three as in a three-man defence: “Among the more demanding requests was to defend with four and build up with three, to change formations during the match, and that was probably a mistake. I’ve reflected on this and it’s one of the things I will change. I want to remove this complication: we will always play with either a 3-5-2, a 3-4-2-1, or a 3-5-1-1. Up front, players have a bit more freedom to showcase their qualities, but the system will remain the same". From three to twenty-three, Spalletti has chosen to rely on a smaller squad with a dual purpose: “When there are too many players, training sessions don’t go well. You’re constantly changing things, and they don’t have the freedom to train at their best. Also, this way they will feel fully part of the project for these two matches. I want all the players to be deeply invested in the cause”.

YOUNG TALENT AND NEW HORIZONS. The focus is also on the young players and their enthusiasm: “These young players must show an extraordinary desire, even to win a throw-in. Today is a great day. We’re here as part of the National Team, and we have all the qualities to do well. I must be the first to believe that we have a different strength compared to what we’ve shown and to have confidence in the work I can carry forward. In this squad, we have players with a distinguished past, and we are dealing with a team that possesses great quality. I spoke with the players earlier, and they seemed determined, with the right mindset for the importance of the upcoming competition, which can give us a chance to reset and work towards World Cup qualification”.

ABSENT AND PRESENT. Out of the 23 players called up, 17 are returning from the European Championship, with 18 expected if Barella hadn’t stayed in Milan for a pre-scheduled surgery: “I spoke with Barella, who informed me about his respiratory issues. We need to ensure he’s in the best condition to perform. I have great respect for him as a serious professional and a top player, and I look forward to having him back for the next call-up".

Moise Kean and Sandro Tonali both received their first call-ups under Spalletti. Tonali, who has served his suspension for betting offences, is now fully available: “Tonali has trained well and completed the full preparation, even though he hasn’t played a full match in a while. We have the utmost confidence in him. He’s one of the players I’ve spoken to the most recently; it seems he’s reflected a lot, which is an additional reason to include him. Kean, now playing regularly, also earned his place. “I’ve spoken with Palladino, who is enthusiastic about his abilities. We have always believed in him. We had previously brought him in and given him crucial minutes in important matches”.

THE FEDERATION'S TRUST.  Regarding trust, after the European Championship, the coach felt the support of the FIGC and President Gravina: “My decision to continue was reinforced by understanding that the match against Switzerland didn’t change how the president and the Federation viewed me. This confidence allowed me to immediately start working on alternative solutions and figuring out how to avoid the mistakes that led to that defeat. I spoke with Gravina every three days, and often he was the one calling me to convey his confidence in me, which was one of the main reasons I accepted this position in the first place".

FRENCH TEST. In his second year as the national team coach, Spalletti faces an immediate and challenging game in September against France, led by the phenomenal Kylian Mbappé. The Azzurri have lost their last three encounters with the French and have never won at the Parc des Princes; their last victory in Paris dates back 70 years: “We need to put in a great performance in France. We are facing matches of the highest level, which will give us valuable experience as we prepare for the World Cup qualifiers".

PLAYERS CALLED UP

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Caleb Okoli (Leicester), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);

Midfielders: Marco Brescianini (Atalanta), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);

Forwards: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).