Spalletti admits mistakes in Italy's line-up choices

Luciano Spalletti, the coach of Italy's national football team, acknowledged that he may have made mistakes in choosing the starting lineup for their recent match against Germany. Italy played to a 3-3 draw, but they were eliminated from the Nations League quarter-finals, losing 5-4 on aggregate. In the first half, Italy struggled and quickly fell behind 3-0. Spalletti noted that some younger players seemed afraid on the pitch. He mentioned that it was difficult for him to see his players not enjoying the chance to compete at this level. They made too many mistakes, particularly when playing the ball from the back. One of the goals that Italy conceded was particularly embarrassing. The players were arguing after a previous chance and failed to notice a quick corner kick taken by Germany, leading to an easy goal. Spalletti believes that such mistakes will stick in the players' minds, reminding them of the importance of concentration. After the disappointing first half, Spalletti worked to motivate the team, and they improved in the second half. He reflected that maybe he could have selected different players but felt the same outcome was likely. Italy is set to begin their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup in June against Norway. Despite the loss, there were some positives, such as Moise Kean scoring twice. Spalletti praised Kean for his resilience and character during the second half comeback. Moving forward, the coach plans to focus on his current players but is open to adjustments if any players show signs of struggle under pressure.