Although the Italian team watched the 2018 Russia and Qatar 2022 World Cups on television and was eliminated in the group stage in the previous two (Brazil 2014 and South Africa 2010), they are the current European champions and in Germany they will seek to revalidate their European title. the hand of Luciano Spalletti, coach who established a strong and rigorous regime with commandments that footballers must strictly comply with.
As he warned La Gazzetta dello Sportthe technical director imposed “iron rules”, where delays are not tolerated, the use of mobile phones was restricted, headphones were prohibited, the use of video games was limited and even laughter was “dosed.”
La Nazionale sealed its ticket to the competition that will take place from June 14 to July 14 in German territory, after being escorted by England (it beat Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta). The draw decided that they would be in Group B along with Spain, Croatia and Albania. It is worth remembering that the two best in each zone and the four best third parties advance to the round of 16.
The use of video games was limited:
The technical staff decided to prohibit the use of personal PlayStations, in order to avoid long nights in front of the screen playing eternal games and thus promote a better rest. In return, a games room was created, which has ping-pong, pool tables, foosball, two video games from the 80s (the classic pinball) and four consoles (two are car racing simulators).
“T-shirts, values, pride, responsibility, these are not words I use randomly, although someone must have thought of that. Some players thought that Spalletti barks and then has no teeth, but they are wrong and it must be made clear. From now on you will leave the PlayStation at home, I am going to invent a game for you to think about to distract you during the night. They call me and I give them their homework, if the day’s homework wasn’t enough. At the Nazionale we are focused, we are not joking,” the DT bluntly launched at the time in a press conference.
At that time he also stated that “I want the concentrations from before, with old customs and atmosphere. Simple things, Buffon will help me with that (NdR: the former goalkeeper is the head of the delegation). If modernity is playing Play until 4 in the morning with the game the next day, then it doesn’t work. Kids today prefer to post a photo on Instagram with their hair done before putting their heads down and working. “These are not the values that my Italy should transmit,” the coach remarked. “You come to the Nazionale to win the Euro Cup, not to win in Call of Duty.”
Delays are not tolerated:
Punctuality gained great value within the group. The Certaldo native reported that delays are not tolerated both at the lunch table and in technical meetings or training sessions. “The team is the team, not a handful of individuals. At 12 everyone together at the technical meeting, at 12:45 for lunch, at 8:00 p.m. for dinner. “No one is late because they are busy,” explained the aforementioned medium. Since one of the practices is in the afternoon, it was decided to give more freedom at breakfast, where you can get ready until 11.
The use of mobile phones was restricted:
Mobile phones may be used during your stay in Germany, but on certain occasions. They may only be connected to their cell phones before lunch or dinner, but never while sitting around the table to eat or during a team meeting.
The use of headphones is prohibited:
The former Roma, Inter and Napoli strategist warned that “no one can isolate themselves in their virtual world, whether social or simply musical. Hence: no people walking around with headphones on.” The coach ensures that no one becomes isolated and tries to encourage dialogue within his team.
Seriousness, above all:
He believes that excessive laughter at work time does not go hand in hand with what it means to defend the Nazionale shirt. “This does not mean sulking and sad faces, because if not, it’s over, ‘but working while having fun.’ But work. Maximum concentration. In training there is not even a laugh,” the newspaper clarified. You work while having fun, but with maximum concentration.
One of Luciano Spalletti’s main supporters in carrying out this crusade is Gianluigi Buffon, who replaced the late Gianluca Vialli as head of the delegation. He is the link between the main leaders of the squad (Nicolò Barella, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Jorginho, Bryan Cristante and Giovanni Di Lorenzo) and the coach.
