The words of the technician and the former Milan midfielder on the eve of the first climb for qualifying at the 2026 World Cup
Lightness, yes. But also a lot of application and conviction. We are Italy, just remember it. Especially tomorrow evening, when in Oslo you already play a nice slice of possibilities to access directly to the next World Cup. Sandro Tonali and Luciano Spalletti use different ways of saying more or less the same thing. Italy arrived in Oslo to play it, to win it. And he will have to be good at demonstrating that he can go beyond the misfortune of some too much ailments in this season finale. “In a game of this level there are no differences -the blue coach immediately underlined -. Even if they existed, for the value of some player, here is the importance of the race that cancels them: it is a balanced game”. Spalletti goes beyond absences and it is right. “I have the possibility of being able to choose players among many teams and we have replaced them all correctly. The wearing and tension of European competitions together with the scudetto fight decided at the last determined that it would arrive with a little effort at the end”.
The charge of the CT
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They were intense days of work. A little technical, a little psychologist. Which is what a coach should always do when you play something huge. “Usually you try to make both of them, to make you think about how seductive it is to play a game so instead of making it become a load of pressure and tension. We try to train both and the answer has been corrected, you can see that the players have understood the importance of the race; it is good to know and think about the fact that we play so much. We have been chosen for this game and this must make us go on all the thoughts. The correct gaze. On the possible surprise Coppola, Luciano has no doubts: “I know those of the Under 21 very well because the relationship is close with the other technicians -still the coach -. He is one of those we had under observation, he is a very physical player from an impact point of view, very strong head and very defensive: he is more marker, he continues his quality”.
tonal the essay
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All ready, then. Starting with tonals. However, he does not feel leader, because the force is always in the group. “We all have the same responsibility -underlines Sandro -, we are a healthy, young group of guys who want to be well and who know that they have to carry on Italy”. Yes, because the world championship has been missing for too long: “Being left out of two World Cup has been a shock for players and fans. Now we know that we cannot make mistakes starting tomorrow: we have to play with courage, carefree. We must also find some lightness”. On the air of negativity after the many defections. “There is no negativity here, injuries exist, fan part of football. We have many strong players, we will not hide behind this alibi. Tomorrow’s game is essential for us.” Then caresses for everyone and hope. “We all welcomed in the same way: congratulations to Gigio who deserved the Champions League, but then we helped those of Inter at this moment not beautiful. Here we all wear the same shirt, we must all be on the same side”. The impression is that a beautiful and convinced Italy will serve as a view several times in the past against France, Germany and Belgium. “Each game is different, it is not easy to repeat games made to perfection. The beautiful game is to see how we can replicate ourselves to play truly serene. We are good, we are strong, the problem is when there are the pressures that do not help you play with serenity”. And here Spalletti will have to return to the psychologist: head is clear, chest out. There is Italy to be done. There is to win, to look forward with confidence.
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