Italy boss Spalletti acknowledges gulf in class with Spain

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti admits there’s ‘a gulf’ between the reigning European Champions and their Group B conquerors Spain.

Whereas a 55^th minute own-goal from Riccardo Califiori was the one factor to separate the perimeters, Spain spurned a glut of probabilities whereas the woodwork, and Gianluca Donnarumma got here to Italy’s rescue on quite a few events.

True ardour 💚🤍❤️#EURO2024 | #ESPITA pic.twitter.com/jAc31PpkhC

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 20, 2024

The end result left Spain going via to the Spherical of 16 as group winners whereas Italy face the prospect of going out within the group stage ought to they lose to Croatia in Monday evening’s conflict in Leipzig.

Spalletti, overseeing his first event lower than a yr after succeeding Roberto Mancini, advised uefa.com: “There was an excessive amount of of a gulf. They brought about us extra issues than the scoreline suggests, let’s not beat across the bush.”

He added: “We had been too frantic, significantly taking part in the ball excessive of their defence. After we gained the ball again, we struggled to maintain possession; after they gained the ball again, we struggled to get it again.

“We struggled with their counter-press however we additionally made some easy errors on some easy passes, and you’ll’t afford to do this.”

Spalletti admitted he would love his gamers to have the ability to carry out as Spain did, saying they’re the usual in trendy soccer at current.

“Everybody would love to repeat Spain by way of the best way they play,” he mentioned. “They’ve been taking part in the perfect soccer for the longest time now.

“I must try to reach making my gamers conscious of how vital this form of match is, as a result of in case you sit very deep in opposition to groups like this, finally it turns into very tough.

“We wanted to maintain possession like we’ve got finished in our earlier matches. We wanted to maintain the ball and attempt to play. That’s the one method to play.”

The previous Napoli boss bemoaned his facet’s sluggish efficiency, including: “That’s the primary cause this occurred. We wanted to kind issues out however the primary cause we struggled is as a result of we had been sluggish.

“Spain had been a staff tonight and we weren’t capable of be a staff. They deserved to win, we had been by no means within the recreation apart from the ultimate 20 minutes.

“If quite a few gamers aren’t on the high of their recreation, it turns into tougher. Because it was, we allowed Spain to fully dominate proceedings, and to take action fairly comfortably.”