Following their Euro 2024 debacle, there was no reason for fans, players and Italy coach Luciano Spalletti to feel pleased. After all, they had an underwhelming first tournament under Spalletti, winning one of their four games and being knocked out by Switzerland in the round of 16.
However, ahead of Italy's first excursion since the Euro, the Azzurri boss is able to smile again. Not even the prospect of facing France in their Uefa Nations League opener at Parc des Princes on Sept 6 is able to dampen his mood.
It seems the attitude of his charges, champing at the bit as they look to right the wrongs from the summer, has impressed Spalletti.
"After three days of training, these lads allowed me to smile again in football terms for the first time since the Euro," the coach told RAI Sport and Sky Sport Italia.
"I saw good things, like tempo, passion, availability, feeling at one with the football. This is the key to getting things back on track." "We cannot afford to underestimate anything, especially after the bad impression we made in the Euro. There are some things we need to change, including restoring the confidence we lost in ourselves."
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