Spalletti: ‘That is the Italy everyone expects, a valuable lesson’

epa11984179 Head coach Luciano Spalletti of Italy looks on during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, 2nd leg match between Germany and Italy in Dortmund, Germany, 23 March 2025. EPA-EFE/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

Luciano Spalletti insists the side that fought back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Germany is ‘the Italy that everyone expects,’ hoping that embarrassing goal can be a valuable lesson.

The Azzurri showed some fight after the restart and clawed back two goals through Moise Kean and a Giacomo Raspadori penalty to go from 3-0 to 3-3, but it was too little, too late.

“We build from evaluating what happened. Games give you responses,” the coach told RAI Sport.

“Clearly, in the first half we weren’t determined enough to play football and give the team the possibilità to express itself, individually or collectively. Then we recognised with our conscience that we had to do more and we saw the Italy that everyone expects.”

There was also a controversial incident when Italy were awarded a penalty, only for it to be revoked following the VAR review for a Nico Schlotterbeck stud grazing the ball. Was that enough to overturn the original decision?

“I couldn’t see it from where I was, but I don’t like seeking controversy. The team had this fierce fightback and deserved a little more luck, that is true,” replied Spalletti.

Spalletti hopes Italy can learn from this

Italy conceded a truly embarrassing goal from Jamal Musiala, as Gianluigi Donnarumma and the Italy players all turned their backs on the quick Joshua Kimmich corner, allowing the tap-in from six yards.

“This is how it works, we saw that they took these corners quickly and must not turn our backs to them. It is better in a way to concede a goal like this, so we can realise it’s not just words of advice, there are real life applications of what we say,” insisted Spalletti.

What went so badly wrong in that first half to trail 3-0 in Dortmund, having already lost the first leg 2-1?

“We made too many mistakes when winning back the ball, giving it away again immediately. We knew Germany would press us high, but I expected something more.

“We had some words in the locker room at half time and saw what we had wanted.”

Italy are therefore out of the Nations League in the quarter-final stage, which means they begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Norway on June 6.

They will be in Group I with Norway, Israel, Estonia and Moldova.

“We know how to play, trust us, we’ll say what we need to say.”