Luciano Spalletti passionately defends his formation after Italy require late equaliser in Leipzig to make last 16

Macdara Ferris reports from Leipzig

Mattia Zaccagni curled in the late goal in Leipzig to earn Italy a 1-1 draw against Croatia and move the Azzurri into the knock-out stages of Euro 2024.

With four points from their three group games, Italy secured runners up spot in the group. Afterwards however, the Italian boss, Luciano Spalletti, was feeling the ‘venom’ being directed his side’s way and passionately defended the way he set out his team.

He had changed to a 3-5-2 formation for a match where, after beating Albania but losing to Spain, they knew a draw would secure them a place in the knockout stages. He batted away the criticism of the move away from 4-3-3.

With the bright post-match press conference lights beaming off his head and spotlighting his striking Giorgio Armani suit jacket he said: “We played this way in Empoli (against Bosnia in the final Euros warm up game) and in America in March. I did my dissertation on 3-5-2 at Coverciano (the Italian FA’s coaching school).”

While they are reigning European champions, Italy failed to make the last World Cup and struggled to make these Euros.

They lost at home to England and drew away with North Macedonia, and held on for a scoreless draw against Ukraine in their final group game to get the runners up spot on goal difference ahead of Ukraine. 

“Since North Macedonia we have been under pressure,” admitted Spalletti. “We needed to beat Albania (which they did 2-1). When we got this group, we said 'lads that isn’t a favourable draw'. We came into this game but we could afford to draw. We did what we needed to do.

“I feel there is this venom coming from all sides. It is hard to make it through this group – the media said to me it was the group of death. Spain are brilliant, Croatia excellent. We feel the bite of pressure. But everything the players have been doing is getting better from my perspective.” 

He was asked was he and his team afraid of going into a game where they knew a loss might send them home?

“Afraid? What kind of a question is that?” said Spalletti looking across the room. “What am I afraid of? If I were afraid I would have come here like you journalists and watched the game. I would have done another job and come to watch the game. I’ve lost lots of games in my life.

"I’m not afraid to lose a football game.”

He did though admit that his team were timid at times but by keeping their shape right through the extensive injury time that allowed them to score the equaliser.

With the clock heading towards three digits, Riccardo Calafiori strode forward from his back three position and played the ball wide left to substitute Zaccagni whose curled effort found the top corner of the net to cancel out Luka Modrić’s earlier goal.

“When you can afford to draw the game, you can do things a bit more timidly. We were ultra offensive towards the end of the game but the players were still sharp. The substitutes were giants in what they showed. The subs kept the game in the balance.

"Even in 98th minute, you are set up in the right shape. 'We can do it'. That is what I said.

“We deserve to go through tonight in terms of what we produced. Sure we were a bit soft at times in the game and didn’t play our best football. The win was warranted."

Hurt

Zlatko Dalić cut a quieter figure when he came to speak to the media but still had a cut at UEFA over the length of injury time in the game – time that allowed Italy to score and more than likely knock Croatia out.

“Eight minutes of added time? We are a small country and we have to stand up for ourselves. You can’t have eight minutes. It is nonsense.

“You can’t concede a goal like that in the 98th minute. Defeat is part and parcel of football.

"It really hurts and it will hurt over coming days and months. It is not easy. Some days it is your day and other days it is not. That is football. I’m the one to blame if we don’t make it through.”