Luciano Spalletti Remains The Coach Of The Italian National Team Despite Failing In The 2024 European Cup

The head coach of the Italian national football team Luciano Spalletti left a press conference at the Giulio-Onesti sports center, in Rome, Italy (18/3/2024). (ANTARA/AFP/Alberto Pizzoli/aa.)

JAKARTA - Luciano Spalletti will remain as coach of the Italian national team even though the Azzurri team was eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2024 European Cup, FIGC General Chair Gabriele Gravina announced on Sunday.

Italy was kicked off the 2024 European Cup stage after losing 0-2 to Switzerland in Berlin on Saturday (29/6) night, but the heartbreaking result had no adverse impact on Spalletti's work.

"I am pragmatic, it is impossible to solve problems while ignoring long-term projects or ignoring coaches and players who work with us on this project," Gravina was quoted as saying by AFP.

Italy appeared in the 2024 European Cup as defending champions, but under Spalletti who replaced Roberto Mancini last summer, they failed to show their best performance.

"Spalletti has our trust, he must have our trust, he needs to work, because in 60 days the Nations League starts," added Gravina as reported by Antara.

"We can't imagine that (Kylian) Mbappe or Cristiano Ronaldo will suddenly enter into this situation, so we need to be patient," he said again.

Spalletti took over the job as a national team coach with great hopes after he led Napoli to win the Italian League title.

But he failed to boost Italy in the 2024 European Cup, often changing the line-up and formation, and several times at odds with reporters.

The 65-year-old said before the tournament that he would bring his best version towards the biggest job of his coaching career.

When asked if he had achieved that, Spalletti replied, 'Of course not, because otherwise I would be talking about different things here.'

"Last night's game brought us back to zero, and that's what we needed to restart," Spalletti said.

Italy will embark on their Nations League journey against France in Paris September 6, and also face Belgium and Israel in Group A2.