Italy national football team coach Luciano Spalletti said today, Wednesday, that his country can become a great team if it gives its best, before the upcoming match against Belgium.
Italy is at the top of Group Two, after winning its first two matches last month, and will host Belgium tomorrow, Thursday, in the third stage.
Belgium has three points, equal to France.
Spalletti said in a press conference: “We will immediately become a great team in every match in which we can give our best. This is a decisive match for our future,” adding that Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini will be among the starting lineup.
Italy will miss the injured Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella, as well as Liverpool player Federico Chiesa.
Spalletti summoned Montsa striker Daniele Maldini, the son of Italian legend Paolo Maldini, who played 126 international matches, and the grandson of Cesare, who last represented Italy 61 years ago.
“He is a (type of) player that we were missing,” Spalletti said.
Italy was eliminated from the 2024 European Championship in the final stage, and had failed to qualify for the finals in the last two editions of the World Cup, which caused great embarrassment for the country that had won the World Cup four times.
Spalletti said the team felt an obligation to qualify for the next World Cup in 2026, but this should not turn into an obsession.
