epa11659417 Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Italy, reacts during the UEFA Nations League A soccer match Italy vs Israel in Udine, Italy, 14 October 2024. EPA-EFE/DAVIDE CASENTINI
Italy national team head coach Luciano Spalletti insists that the decisions he and his staff have made since the European Championships in the summer have ‘been correct and will remain the same’, but has highlighted one Serie A star who could return to the Azzurri set-up in the near future.
Italy endured a miserable EURO 2024 campaign in Germany; eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland, but have enjoyed a positive Nations League campaign since then, beating France, Belgium and Israel away from home and almost winning the group until the loss against France in San Siro in the final fixture of the round.
Speaking to news agency ANSA at an event in Italy on Tuesday, Spalletti insisted that consistency is key, and that he will not be making too many alterations to his set-up when international football returns in 2025.
“The choices that were made have been correct and will remain the same,” Spalletti told ANSA.
“I am very convinced by the players I’ve assembled in the last camps. What they have shown us is great.”
Though Spalletti hopes to keep his team relatively unchanged during the next international break, he admits that there could be a return for Lazio star Mattia Zaccagni in the near future.
The Biancocelesti forward has provided five goals and two assists from 13 appearances in Serie A this term: The same number of goal involvements he had in the league throughout the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign (six goals and one assist).
“He was an important component for us during the Euros, alsp for what he showed in training,” Spalletti said of the 29-year-old.
“Now he has a better chance because I see him playing inside more, and it’s fundamental for our system that we have players who play in the same roles for their clubs.
“Zaccagni has also played a big part in Lazio’s season so far.”
