Italy flops in Norway: Luciano Spalletti doesn’t look for alibis and announces changes
With seven matches still to play and, potentially, still 21 points at its disposal, Italy certainly cannot recite the “footballing De profundis” after the defeat in the first match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but the 0-3 in Norway makes the whole Azzurri environment reflect, starting with coach Luciano Spalletti, who was rather harsh in the press conference.
“We have to analyze the facts: we were light from the start, there was no determination – the coach from Certaldo commented -We made a mistake on the first goal, lost a lot of balls on the three-quarter, we crowded ourselves too much in midfield. We all have to do better individually, but I still want to defend this group”.
“I will say something to those who can–t get to their best,” Spalletti added.
I am responsible for this team, if it shows little quality it is also my fault. Now we have to think about Monday’s game, we will change some players because we need freshness. Then I will talk with President Gravina. What will we discuss? Of the choices from the technical point of view”.
The group formula stipulates that the first will go directly to the World Cup, while the second will have to go through the labyrinth of the playoffs: a gloomy prospect for the Azzurri, who missed out on qualification for the 2018 and 2022 reviews precisely at the playoffs. “It’s a discourse we have to take into account – admitted Spalletti -. It is up to us to prove we are superior”.
