Arrigo Sacchi has his say on Italy’s victory over France
Arrigo Sacchi has his say on Italy's victory over France
From the columns of Gazzetta dello Sport Arrigo Sacchi judged Luciano Spalletti’s Italy’s Nations League victory over France. Here is what the former leader of Grande Milan in the 1980s and 1990s and former Azzurri coach wrote.
“Finally I saw an Italian national team playing seriously and the result è in front of my eyes. I still had in my memory that horrible performance at the’European Championship against Switzerland, when we were eliminated, and I was afraid that I was going to go through another embarrassment”.
“Already; facing France at the Parc des Princes is notè simple, plus if you do it by giving away a goal after a few seconds the problems increase incredibly. Instead, Spalletti’s boys surprised me: they put in the work with a spirit of sacrifice, with commitment, with determination and they went upstream. Very good at not getting overwhelmed, not collapsing psychologically and wanting to show everyone that Italy è still an important national team. Of course, if I look at France’s performance, I can’t help but point out how, after the lead, they had a cocky attitude, but these are problems that Deschamps’ will have to solve.
“We enjoy the victory, reflect on the reasons that led to our success and, above all, try to give continuity to this proof. Eh yes; because I am not satisfied, a good game is not enough for me to say that we are finally cured: we need a series of high-level competitions to be able to say that we are really out of the tunnel. Woe to us if we think we are phenomena because we beat France at home! I hope that the risk of presumption, after the beatings we have suffered in recent years, is not in the catalog of possibilities. And in any case, I am sure that Spalletti will be able to strike the right chords to make sure that the environment does not fly too high ahead of the challenge against Israel. Let us always remember that we have failed two consecutive World Cup qualifiers, which has never happened in the past. So now, I suggest caution and modesty before shouting to the four winds that the Azzurri are back. Let’s wait, let’s evaluate and let’s try to help these guys who are trying to embark on a new path”.
“Of the game against France I è liked the attitude and also the way of being on the field. Spalletti chose the classic 3-5-2, which then è actually è a 5-3-2, and so è gave confidence to the players who know this form well because theyé practice it in their club teams. It seems to me that the step forward has been taken: these youngsters have shown that, when they play all-out, they are able to put opponents in trouble. In particular, I saw tight lines between the wards and continuous help between players. It means that they made themselves available to the collective, put aside their selfishness and thought about the good of the team. This è the starting point for a positive adventure. I have always maintained, and always will maintain, that when choosing players you have to look at them as people, and not as names. In soccer you need people who are reliable, helpful, modest, intelligent. The attention of coaches must go to the head, not to the feet. I, as technical commissioner, always called men who I knew would give me everything, even what they did not have. And soì è it was”.
“In this new start Spalletti will have to carefully evaluate the human qualities of the whole group. Specifically, against France I appreciated the test of the defensive block and then the willà once we regained the ball, to go on the attack with five or six elements. A courage that è was rewarded. Good Frattesi who must be used in this role: è a very good forwards and this he must do. I è liked the entry of Raspadori, a striker who knows the game and can move according to his teammates. I appreciated the work of Retegui who, in the 5-3-2, never è isolated. And, finally, I was amazed by the liveliness of Tonali, who was coming from a long period of stop and showed a lot of energy. I also emphasize the direction of Ricci, who is growing from game to game. There may not have been any stars in’Italy, agreed, for’against France there’è was a team. And the team è always the most important thing”.
