Spalletti set to shake things up for Italy's clash with Croatia

Luciano Spalletti has announced that he will be making changes to Italy's starting line-up for their final Group B match against Croatia in EURO 2024.

Despite naming the same starting line-up for the first two games, the defeat to Spain has prompted Spalletti to make adjustments.

After the loss to Spain, Spalletti acknowledged that his team appeared tired and unable to keep up with the pace and energy of the Spanish side. He admitted that he should have made changes earlier but was hesitant due to the strong performance against Albania.

However, with signs of fatigue and rustiness, Spalletti is now determined to make necessary alterations.

The defeat against Spain sparked discussions within the Italian camp, but Spalletti emphasized that it is time to move on from talking and focus on action.

Reflecting on the match, he expects the team to have learned valuable lessons despite their poor performance and the suffering caused by the result. Spalletti emphasized the importance of putting words aside and focusing on tangible results.

Spalletti also addressed Italy's defensive reputation, stating that the days of the "Catenaccio" style are long gone in modern football. He believes that teams must be versatile and capable of adapting to different situations.

Against Croatia, he anticipates the need to defend with all eleven players at times, maintaining a compact structure and swiftly transitioning into attacking plays to prevent the opponents from regaining their defensive shape.

Spain has secured six points and won the group, while Italy, with three points, must secure a draw against Croatia to secure their spot in the last 16 as runners-up.

If Italy were to lose, Croatia, with one point, could surpass them, potentially leaving Italy to rely on being one of the top four third-placed teams to advance, or risk elimination if Albania, also with one point, were to defeat Spain.

Spalletti emphasized the importance of certain matches in determining the success or failure of a team's journey, highlighting the significance of games like these.