Italian National Team Coach Luciano Spalletti Terminated After Defeat

Luciano Spalletti, the head coach of the Italian national team, has been relieved of his duties.

This follows a defeat of 3-0 to Norway in the World Cup 2026 qualifying match.

The decision to terminate Spalletti’s contract was made by Gabriele Gravina, the president of the Italian Football Federation.

Spalletti’s Tenure

Spalletti, age 66, assumed the role of head coach of the Italian national team following the conclusion of the 2024 European Championship.

Spalletti expressed regret about leaving the position and mentioned that he would have preferred to stay and work on improving the team’s performance.

He acknowledged the decision and is set to be on the bench for the upcoming match against Moldova before formally ending his contract.

Team Performance

Spalletti sees his position as a way to serve the country and aims to support the development of the national team.

He had a record of 11 wins in 23 games, with six losses and six draws during his tenure.

Italy faced Germany in the quarter-finals of the Nations League this year and was defeated.

Future Matches

In the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, Italy will compete against Norway, Moldova, Estonia, and Israel.

The top team from the group will qualify directly for the tournament, while the second-place team will enter a playoff for a chance to qualify.

The appointment of Gabriele Gravina as the new coach of the Italian national team came as a surprise following Spalletti’s departure.

Spalletti expressed his desire to remain in his current position and did not have any plans to resign.

His departure from the team following the defeat against Norway marked a significant moment in his career.

He viewed his role on the national team as a way to contribute to his country.

Spalletti’s decision to terminate his contract was made in order to support the future development of the team, even though he expressed a desire to continue in his role.

The Italian national team is currently experiencing a period of transition following the resignation of Luciano Spalletti as head coach.

The team is preparing to regroup and concentrate on their upcoming matches in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers in order to secure their spot in the tournament.

The decision to replace Spalletti was made with the team’s future in mind.

All attention will be focused on the Italian national team as they navigate through the current challenging period.