Italy, Spalletti launches debutant Coppola to stop Haaland: "Heads held high, we are strong"
OSLO. Part coach and part psychologist. Luciano Spalletti has spent long hours in the Coverciano training camp to charge up a national team that cannot fail in its approach to go to the World Cup, and at the same time heal the physical and spiritual wounds of a group undermined by injuries and ghosts. The Acerbi case and the depression of the Inter players after the Champions League final weigh heavily, as does a defense that has lost one piece after another, but tomorrow night against Haaland's Norway you really can't make mistakes . "There are 3 possible results and I'll try to win it - relaunches the Italian coach -, then we'll see what happens and I'll face what happens. We're strong and we'll play with our heads held high".
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To stop Haaland, a super performance will be needed, even if it will be up to debutant Diego Coppola to try to stop the Norwegian giant from Manchester City . "I know the Under 21s well," says Spalletti, "and we talk to each other all the time. He is very physical, very strong in the air and is defensive: he is more of a marker than a builder, but he has the quality of attention and this strength of character ." The senators Di Lorenzo and Bastoni will act alongside him, while Zappacosta could move on the right and Udogie on the left on the two wings, with Cambiaso and Dimarco useful in the second half. "Sometimes you need a change of pace," analyzes the coach, "and now those who come in later are important. In the second half he makes his mark and in the 4x100 relay the last one is the strongest."
Kean, however, will not be in attack due to a muscular problem that stopped him before leaving for Oslo. So it will be up to Retegui, the league's top scorer, to try to guarantee the goals that Italy needs and help the national team keep its center of gravity high. "We have to play carefree - comments Sandro Tonali -: injuries unfortunately exist, this is football and we must not think like this. We have many strong players: we will not hide behind this alibi and we must not be negative. We want to go to the World Cup and we know that we cannot make mistakes: the ball will be heavy, but we must be free and carefree ".
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