Luciano Spalletti admitted he “didn’t make a distinction” throughout his time as Italy supervisor and acknowledged that the group struggled of their 2-0 win over Moldova on Monday.
Spalletti took cost of his twenty fourth and ultimate recreation because the Azzurri’s boss in Reggio Emilia after sensationally asserting his sacking in a pre-match press convention final week.
Italy suffered a dismal 3-0 defeat to Norway in Oslo on Friday in what represented their first recreation of qualifying within the UEFA part.
The 66-year-old was appointed because the successor to Roberto Mancini following his shock resignation again in August 2023, having led Napoli to the Serie A title earlier that 12 months.
Spalletti oversaw a disappointing Euro 2024 marketing campaign with Italy’s defence of the trophy ending on the last-16 stage to Switzerland after they scraped via the group part.
Total, he ended his time with the Azzurri having received 12 of his 24 matches on the helm (D6 L6), along with his group averaging 1.75 points-per-match.
Victory in Reggio Emilia! #ITAMDA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/jGF3e0aryw
— Italy (@Azzurri_En) June 9, 2025
Spalletti did, nevertheless, get a successful send-off with Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso scoring in both half to seal the win towards Moldova, although it was from snug for the hosts.
Ion Nicolaescu thought he had put Moldova forward contained in the opening 10 minutes, solely to see the objective dominated out for offside after a VAR overview confirmed the choice.
Sergiu Clescenco’s continued to threaten all through, however Italy’s high quality within the ultimate third overpowered them. The Azzurri registered an anticipated objectives (xG) whole of two.63 from their 28 pictures to their opponents’ 1.33 from their seven makes an attempt.
“It’s true, we struggled tonight too. Nonetheless, there are too many parts behind this. And we confirmed what we’d seen earlier than,” Spalletti instructed RAI Sport.
“I maintained this group, however I discovered them actually fatigued at this stage of the season.
“Maybe searching for somebody in higher bodily form would possibly’ve helped, however the reality we have now 25 gamers all a bit like this implies the marketing campaign actually took it out on everybody.
“One of many greatest issues was enjoying the very first recreation, essentially the most troublesome of the group, in Oslo, proper on the finish of the season. It’s unhealthy luck with the draw.
“This can be a really totally different group in a lot better form come September, so the timing didn’t assist us.”
Italy’s seek for a brand new supervisor is underway, with a brand new face set to seem on the touchline once they play their subsequent World Cup qualifiers in September.
“We actually are usually not leaving my successor a way of enthusiasm, regardless of the optimistic response from the followers,” Spalletti added.
“The coach has to make the distinction, the gamers need to make the distinction, and sadly I didn’t make the distinction.”