Italy boss Luciano Spalletti has challenged his squad to show no fear at Euro 2024 as they look to live up to what the fans dream of and successfully defend their title in Germany.
The Azzurri face Albania in their Group B opener in Dortmund on Saturday night, when the pressure will be on to get off to a winning start ahead of other fixtures against Spain and Croatia.
Spalletti took over the national team in September 2023- following the departure of Roberto Mancini – and knows full well the expectations which come with the job after securing qualification behind England.
😁💙
𝑫𝒂𝒚 ✌️ #EURO2024#Nazionale 🇮🇹 #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/Rn9IOAppTh
— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) June 12, 2024
“For any child that goes out every evening and sweats, grazes their knees – then we are their heroes, what they dream of. It is up to us to live up to that,” Spalletti told a press conference.
“Giants and heroes don’t go out with fear – they go out with passion and belief.
“Every one of us needs to ensure they have their toolbox and can screw or unscrew what they need to.”
Spalletti added: “We have our own brand of football and need to keep faith in it.
“Sometimes your opponents stop you but I am confident we can impose our game plan.”
Former Napoli boss Spalletti used Italy’s pre-match press conference to put the record straight over reports he had banned his squad from going on a PlayStation as well as not being able to wear headphones.
“What I am interested in is that they actually sleep at night. I am not bothered about what exactly it is they do,” he said.
“I don’t allow people to being up until all hours, so that then the next morning, they are not completely rested and then they go out to train.
“We have actually created a games room where there are two modern PlayStations that everyone goes and plays there – I have even had a go at it myself – but they do so within the scope of the right time of day.
“We need to make sure that we impart a correct lifestyle, so that we can then produce our best football during matches.”
Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella has been able to resume full training ahead of Saturday’s match.
Albania – coached by former Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City left-back Sylvinho – finished top of their qualifying group ahead of Czech Republic and Poland.
Albania 🇦🇱#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/vrsttNHB46
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 13, 2024
Azzurri captain Gianluigi Donnarumma insists the Eagles, with several of the squad playing in Serie A, must not be taken lightly.
“This match is the biggest banana skin in our group. We have to be 100 per cent switched on,” said the Paris St Germain goalkeeper.
“If we win tomorrow night, it will be a big step to qualification. It will put us in a strong position, but not winning would put us under pressure.”
Albania captain Berat Djimsiti could come up against Atalanta team-mate Gianluca Scamacca but feels there will not be much the players do not know about each other anyway.
“Many of us have played in Italy for a long time, so of course we know a lot of the players,” the defender said at a press conference.
“In terms of weaknesses, Italy are reigning European champions, so it won’t be easy and they are always competitive in major competitions.”
⚽🇦🇱 Kur ka mbetur vetëm një ditë nga debutimi i Kombëtares shqiptare në #Euro2024, Presidenti i FSHF-së, Armand Duka ka treguar ndjesitë dhe emocionet në prag të sfidës ndaj Italisë që do të luhet në Dortmund.
✍️ Intervista, në 𝐟𝐬𝐡𝐟.𝐨𝐫𝐠https://t.co/NMWXhCyXTV
— FSHF (@FSHForg) June 14, 2024
Sylvinho insists Albania are not just in Germany to make up the numbers.
“It is a huge source of pride to be here,” the Brazilian said. “We are in a very tough group and at a tough tournament.
“We are here to compete, though, and we will scrap for every point.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
