Italy dressing room ‘divided’ under Luciano Spalletti during EURO 2024

Luciano Spalletti’s Italy are out of EURO 2024 after defeat to Switzerland, but reports indicate the Azzurri squad was not entirely united under the Italian’s leadership.

Italy have only won one game in the entire tournament and the final match saw them put on a diabolical show, dominated by Switzerland. The Republic (via CM) said today that things were not going well for Italy behind the scenes either, as some of the squad felt estranged from the manager and his ideas on the game.

There was also a lack of commitment in training from several players, who were disoriented by the tactics and training methods in place. Spalletti found himself without a leader and this was a problem for him as small groups and factions formed in the dressing room.

Some players accused Spalletti of a lack of preparation and felt there was no intensity in the style of play. Some players were also privately unhappy with the call-up of Nicolo Fagioli, considered an “informant” for having denounced Sandro Tonali in the betting scandal.

Some players were shocked by the tactical changes made two hours before the match against Croatia. Some players felt excluded from the starting eleven.