Luciano Spalletti has taken duty for Italy’s Euro 2024 exit, although the Azzurri boss feels his restricted time to arrange the group contributed to their poor shows.
The defending champions crashed out within the final 16 on Saturday, with Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas scoring as Switzerland claimed a deserved 2-0 victory in Berlin.
Following the Azzurri’s defeat, the reigning champions have been eradicated within the spherical of 16 at three successive editions of the match, with Spain going out to Italy in 2016 and Portugal doing so versus Belgium at Euro 2020.
The loss was Italy’s first in a knockout sport on the Euros for the reason that 2012 ultimate versus Spain (90 minutes solely), ending a run of six such matches unbeaten (three wins, three attracts).
Spalletti solely grew to become Italy coach final September after Roberto Mancini stop to take the Saudi Arabia job, and he used Saturday’s post-match press convention to remind reporters of his late appointment.
“I’ve to say this, even when it could seem to be I’m searching for alibis. Earlier than this competitors the opposite coaches had 20 or 30 video games,” he mentioned.
“I had 10 and I already had a gun pointed at me, saying that I needed to win.
“Then we had a number of injured gamers that I used to be relying on, and at the moment we noticed that by way of the depth we have been inferior. Switzerland certified in a good means.”
Spalletti was then requested whether or not he was prone to keep on as Italy coach within the aftermath of their worst Euros efficiency since 2004’s group-stage exit.
The previous Napoli boss has no intention of stepping down however admits issues should change for the group, responding: “It’s a pure query, don’t really feel responsible for asking me.
“It adjustments nothing for me within the sense that I take duty for what occurred.
“I picked the gamers. I’m not proud of the efficiency we produced or the efficiency in opposition to Spain.
“I’m partially proud of the opposite two matches we performed. This time I rested them up and altered the group.
“After the earlier sport, I blamed it on myself, no matter group choice, for not making too many adjustments.”
