Italy coach supports defender Bastoni despite Germany defeat

Italy's national football team coach, Luciano Spalletti, is standing by defender Alessandro Bastoni after a poor performance against Germany. Spalletti praised Bastoni’s abilities and confirmed he will remain an important player for the team ahead of the upcoming Nations League match. In the last game against Germany, Italy lost 2-1 at home. Bastoni struggled as he played out of position, which led to criticism from the media. Normally a left center-back, he was moved to a central role, which did not work well for the team. Despite the heavy criticism, Spalletti believes in Bastoni's talent. He stated that he spoke with Bastoni about his position and felt he did well despite the circumstances. Spalletti mentioned that Bastoni and his teammate, Buongiorno, are strong enough to play together. The coach also addressed Mattia Zaccagni, who has been performing well at Lazio. However, Zaccagni has not yet secured a starting spot for Italy. Spalletti noted that Zaccagni thrives in a specific role and suggested it might be better to use him as a substitute to maximize his impact during the game.