Luciano Spalletti says Italy have to beat North Macedonia in order to keep their hopes of Euro 2024 qualification alive. The Azzurri need a win this evening and victory against Ukraine on Monday to guarantee a place in next summers competition. Ahead of both matches, Spalletti spoke of the need for strong characters in both matches and the ability to carry forward their idea of football:
“We are professionals who must make their history talk through these matches and these results. We are going to build the image we will have in the world through these results. It becomes simple, we have prepared well and we have a team that has the possibility to make leaps forward, not steps, so we are confident as we have a frame that has already been started”.
“We need an Italy that is up to its history and the game that needs to be played at international level. We need an Italy with strong characters and players who know how to deal with these situations. We have to show where we stand in our world: footballers who have to carry forward Italy’s idea of football. We play for our country and we must be willing to do anything.
“It was the same in the other games, the need to get a result was also felt in the previous games. In the ones we played we could have done something more in Macedonia, but nothing would have changed. There is the habit in this path to play certain matches”.
“Chiesa’s talents? A lot of things, he has this ability to get past the opponent, he knows how to score goals, he has a very high level of personality to give to his teammates as well. And we’re delighted to have him available”.
“You try to strike all the necessary chords to face a game of this level. We have a week to work and we have to fill that time well. Even here there are studies done on how to go about it. We have a meeting in the morning, then we did a training session to match those who played on Saturday with those who played on Sunday. We are careful. Even though we had Bastoni’s injury this week. We were careful with the training sessions we did. But the boys’ desire to be there is total right now and it allows them to overlook even some little problems they may have. But we think properly and train seriously. I, too, have to learn how to behave in these times of work and I have changed a few things from what I used to do.
“And you have to learn what responsibility for our jersey means. Because from time to time it increases. Vicario? He stayed at Coverciano. Who will take a penalty tomorrow? We have three very good players. But for the personality he has and the quality he has I say Jorginho, he’s the one I’d like to go and get the ball. For his value as a specialist in that position there and I’m sure he won’t back down. He’s made an incredible impression on me from the point of view of how he can make the whole team move and how much he wants to take part in these games. Even though I didn’t call him for the previous two he was still there.
“There’s also a psychological fatigue that goes to intoxicate the muscles, when you play for important results it’s like that. Injuries happen. But I enjoy watching football every time I’m on the couch so I hope we play as many games as possible. I say things that others don’t say. However, playing all league and cup matches risks becoming a bit automatic and losing a bit of quality. It risks becoming a routine that no longer ignites the desire or quality that spectators want to see. But it depends on the automatism of the cadence, because it is not necessarily the case that by playing several games the player gets injured. It’s always the head that determines muscle injuries. In teams where there are problems and where not everything develops in a positive way, more injuries occur because the lack of results and quality of play helps players to get injured.
“How much has Italy changed since the last game against Macedonia? It’s a daily job, we’ve talked about it. The Federation has given us the opportunity to unite more where we leave off and we find ourselves with new technologies so it’s easier to create the group unity that will help the team play better. Tomorrow night only that result counts though. You can make two thousand speeches but then you have to go and win this game and also put in a good performance. Because often the result is the result of the performance.
“For me it will be beautiful whatever atmosphere I find in this stadium here. To see the Stadio Olimpico full with 54,000 people is something that only happens to those lucky ones like us. It’s like when I walk into any stadium and see a full corner, like when I see a beautiful sunset or a painting”.
