ITALY coach Luciano Spalletti revealed he has been SACKED and will leave his post after tonight’s World Cup qualifier with Moldova.
Former Napoli boss Spalletti, 66, has had less than two years in the Azzurri job since replacing Roberto Mancini, storming off the stage as he cut short his final news conference at the helm.
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But a last 16 exit in Euro 2024 saw him under threat and Friday’s 3-0 trouncing by Norway in their opening qualifier for the 2026 World Cup saw him given his marching orders by Italian FA boss Gabriele Gravina.
Speaking in Milan ahead of the Moldova game, Spalleti explained: “Gravina has informed me that I will be relieved of my role as coach of the national team after the match against Moldova.
“I’m sorry, I would have preferred to stay and try to change things. I have an excellent relationship with Gravina, but I take note of the dismissal due to the negative results.
“So I will be on the bench against Moldova, then I will give the ok to terminate the contract. I owe it to the Federation that has always supported me, even when the results did not arrive.”
Spalletti added: “What’s important is the new cycle for the national team. I say this without hypocrisy, jealousy or envy.
“It hurts me that I was not able to bring out the best in all the players or expressed my football.
“I am also disappointed with myself. With these results I know I have created problems for the Italian football movement and I am especially sorry for this.
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“If anything, the criticism I received after the Norway match was far too understanding.”
Claudio Ranieri, 73, only left his role at Roma last month but is set to replace Spalletti, who urged his players: “I want to end with a great victory, not with the pain of the other night.
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“I will speak to the boys and ask them for character: we have to go to the World Cup, even if it will be complicated.
“We must not believe we are stronger than the others, it is something we have already paid for.
“For me they are the right men: I would be happy if the new coach confirmed them, because it would mean that I did not make a mistake in choosing the players.
“When I spoke with the managers of the various clubs I never had any problems, I always had the utmost availability and understanding. I never had any particular problems.
“From my point of view, having worked in club football, I actually tried to spare some in some cases to avoid problems and controversies.
“If then there are those who use subterfuges to avoid coming to the national team, from my point of view it is better that they never come again.”
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That opened the door for a question over whether Spalletti felt “betrayed” by some players who had ducked his international calls.
Briefly, he started to answer “Why should I feel betrayed?” before stopping himself, getting to his feet and walking out after just 24 minutes.
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The Azzurri have not appeared at a World Cup since 2014 after losing playoffs to Sweden (2018) and North Macedonia (2022) despite winning Euro 2021 at Wembley.
Fans have begged Ranieri, who won the Premier League with Leicester before managing Chelsea and Fulham, to save the day.
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