On November 18, Beijing Time, in the final round of Group B in UEFA Nations League A, Italy lost to France at home with a score of 1-3, securing their place in the quarterfinals as the second-placed team in the group. Italy’s head coach Luciano Spalletti commented on the match after the game.
Speaking about the match, Spalletti said, “The team should have had a less pressured and more relaxed atmosphere, but we conceded a goal from a corner kick early in the game. We tried to turn things around, which greatly drained our energy. When France scored again from a set piece, they intensified their defensive efforts, making it difficult for us to find space. We need to improve our ball control and ability to win the ball in tight spaces, but we didn’t do well enough in these areas.”
Summarizing Italy’s UEFA Nations League campaign, Spalletti stated, “Clearly, this loss has hit the team’s confidence. However, we have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League, so overall, the team’s journey in the tournament remains very positive.”
