Luciano Spalletti, coach of the Italian national team, commented after the disappointing loss to Norway in the first qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup: “We made too many unnecessary errors, giving away goals.” Despite the setback, he reaffirmed his commitment to the current squad, stating, “We will continue with this group.”
Analyzing the match, the coach added, “The first goal we conceded could have been avoided. In wide areas, their players` individual skills caused us problems. We lacked players who could successfully take on defenders.”
When asked if this defeat casts doubt on the ongoing project, Spalletti was resolute: “My focus is on this group. We will move forward this way. There are certain aspects that need improvement, but we are proceeding with this project and these players.”