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Italy’s coach Luciano Spalletti will remain in his position despite the team’s elimination from Euro 2024. The decision was announced by the Italian Football Federation on Sunday after Italy’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the last 16.Italy’s coach Luciano Spalletti will remain in his position despite the team’s elimination from Euro 2024. The decision was announced by the Italian Football Federation on Sunday after Italy’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the last 16. Spalletti’s job was reportedly in jeopardy after Italy’s disappointing performance, which saw them finish third in Group A and fail to qualify for the knockout stages. However, the federation has decided to stick with him, citing Spalletti’s “long-term project” for the team. “I am a pragmatic person. You cannot solve problems by abandoning a long-term project or by abandoning the coach and players who have guided us in this project,” Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina said. “Spalletti has our faith, he must have our faith, he must get started because the Nations League starts in 60 days.” Gravina admitted that Italy’s performance at Euro 2024 was “disastrous,” but he believes Spalletti is the right man to lead the team forward. “We can’t imagine that suddenly a (Kylian) Mbappé or Cristiano Ronaldo will appear on the scene, so we have to be patient,” Gravina said. Spalletti took over as Italy coach in September 2023, replacing Roberto Mancini. He led Italy to victory in the 2023 Nations League Finals, but their performance at Euro 2024 was a major disappointment. Spalletti admitted that he had not achieved the “best version” of himself at Euro 2024. “Clearly he hasn’t, otherwise I would be sitting here talking about something else,” Spalletti said. “Last night’s game brought us back to zero, and from there we have to start again.” Italy will begin their Nations League campaign on September 6 against France in Paris. They will also face Belgium and Israel in Group A2.
Luciano Spalletti will remain Italy coach despite the Azzurri’s humiliating elimination from Euro 2024, the country’s football association said on Sunday.
Italy were dumped out of the European Championship in the last 16 stage after being beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in Berlin on Saturday evening, but a disastrous title defense has not cost Spalletti his job.
“I am a pragmatic person. You cannot solve problems by abandoning a long-term project or by abandoning the coach and players who have guided us in this project,” Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina told reporters.
Italy started the European Championship as reigning champions, but flopped in Germany under Spalletti, who replaced European Championship winner Roberto Mancini last summer.
“Spalletti has our faith, he must have our faith, he must get started because the Nations League starts in 60 days,” Gravina added.
“We can’t imagine that suddenly a (Kylian) Mbappé or Cristiano Ronaldo will appear on the scene, so we have to be patient.”
Spalletti took over the job in Italy with much acclaim after leading Napoli to a historic Serie A title, but he has endured a dreadful tournament with line-ups and formations being broken up and changed and journalists being abused.
The 65-year-old said before the tournament that he would bring the best version of himself to the biggest job of his long and eventful coaching career.
When asked if he had achieved that, Spalletti replied: “Clearly he hasn’t, otherwise I would be sitting here talking about something else.”
“Last night’s game brought us back to zero, and from there we have to start again,” said Spalletti.
Italy starts the Nations League season on September 6 against France in Paris and then plays in group A2 against Belgium and Israel.
