Italy soccer coach Spalletti to quit after defeat against Norway
Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group I - Norway v Italy - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - June 6, 2025 Italy coach Luciano Spalletti looks dejected Erik Flaaris Johansen/NTB via REUTERS/File Photo
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
26 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Inter sign Brazilian forward Henrique from Marseille
Luis Henrique scored nine goals in the 2024-25 season as Marseille finished second in Ligue 1. (EPA Images pic) MILAN : Inter Milan have signed Brazilian forward Luis Henrique from Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille, the Serie A club announced today. While the length of the contract and financial details were not disclosed, Italian media reported the 23-year-old had signed until 2030 in a deal valued at €23 million plus a further €2 million in add-ons. Henrique began his career at Botafogo before signing for Marseille in 2020. In 108 appearances for the French club, he has scored 11 goals – nine of which came in the 2024-25 season as Marseille finished second in Ligue 1. Inter, who suffered a 5-0 loss in the Champions League final against Paris St-Germain last month and finished second in Serie A behind champions Napoli, are next in action at the Club World Cup. They begin their campaign on June 17 when they take on Mexico's Monterrey in Los Angeles, followed by two games in Seattle against Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate.
Free Malaysia Today
27 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Aussies wary of Saudi gamesmanship ahead of crunch World Cup qualifier
A 1-0 win over Japan on Thursday bought the Socceroos breathing room in their quest for a World Cup spot. (AP pic) HONG KONG : Australia's Connor Metcalfe has warned his teammates to avoid reacting to Saudi Arabia's gamesmanship when the nations face off in Jeddah on Tuesday with automatic qualification for next year's World Cup finals on the line. Tony Popovic's outfit goes into the meeting at the King Abdullah Sports City with one foot on the plane to North America after a 1-0 win over Japan on Thursday bought the Socceroos breathing room in their quest for a place at the finals. Despite that advantage, Metcalfe has sought to ensure the Australians do not allow their focus to slip ahead of a crucial 90 minutes that will be played out in front of more than 50,000 fans and in stifling heat. 'There's going to be a lot of diving, a lot of acting, but it's about just blocking the noise out, focusing on ourselves and doing the best we can,' said the St Pauli midfielder. 'You can't get affected by any of it, because if you get affected by any of their little games or noise or whatever it is, then it's just going to affect the game, and they're going to get that little advantage over you.' Australia hold a three-point lead over Herve Renard's side and a large enough goal difference to leave the Saudis needing to win by five goals to climb into second and claim the last automatic berth from the current phase of Asian preliminaries. Japan have already secured top spot in Group C while Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea and Jordan have taken the other berths available to Asian nations at the expanded World Cup from the third phase of qualifying. A further two spots will be up for grabs from a fourth round of qualifiers to be played in October. Anything other than a significant win over the Australians would see Saudi Arabia finish third in Group C and enter that next phase, where they would join the UAE, Qatar, Iraq and Indonesia. Also battling for a place in the fourth round are Oman and Palestine, with the pair looking to secure either third or fourth place in Group B on Tuesday. The two countries face off against each other in Amman with the Palestinians needing to win to climb above Rashid Jaber's side and keep their World Cup qualification dream alive. Neither nation has played at the World Cup and Palestine go into the meeting having handed Kuwait a 2-0 defeat on Thursday to stay in the hunt for a spot in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Free Malaysia Today
27 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Sacked Spalletti to leave Italy job after Moldova match
Luciano Spalletti's dismissal comes after less than two years in the role. (NTB/AP pic) MILAN : Luciano Spalletti has been sacked from his role as Italy's coach, with the manager announcing the decision himself today, following their heavy loss to Norway, but he will take charge of Tuesday's game against Moldova. Spalletti was speaking at a press conference ahead of the Moldova match which comes after Norway stunned Italy with a 3-0 win yesterday, handing the visitors a humiliating start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. 'Last night we were together with (Italian football federation) president (Gabriele) Gravina. He told me that I will be relieved of my position as coach of the national team,' Spalletti said. 'I had no intention of giving up. I would have preferred to stay in my place and continue doing my job. I'll be there tomorrow evening against Moldova, then we'll resolve the contract.' Spalletti's dismissal comes after less than two years in the role, having replaced Roberto Mancini and taking charge in September 2023. While Spalletti took Italy to Euro 2024, their disappointing performance there had already put the manager under pressure. Italy went into the Euros last year in Germany as defending champions but after winning their opening game against Albania, they lost to Spain and snatched a late draw with Croatia to make the last 16 where they were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland. Spalletti's side seemed to have recovered as they put in an impressive Nations League campaign, beating France 3-1 away and losing just once. They lost at home to the French in the final group game to finish behind France on goal difference. Italy began this year with a 2-1 loss at the San Siro in their Nations League quarter-final first leg with Germany and found themselves 3-0 down at halftime in the return game in Dortmund. Spalletti's side came back to salvage a draw but missed out on a semi-final place and when they fell 3-0 behind at the break against Norway, this time Italy had no reply. The loss left Spalletti's side already facing an uphill battle to secure automatic qualification for next year's World Cup, and after Italy missed out on the last two finals, the Italian football federation (FIGC) decided to act. 'I was convinced I could get to the World Cup, and I remain convinced this national team can get there,' Spalletti added. 'I love this shirt, the players I have coached, and tomorrow night I will ask them to show everything they have.' Spalletti was asked if he felt betrayed, but the manager could hardly get any more words out, and with tears in his eyes he left the press room. The 66-year-old, who previously managed the likes of AS Roma, Zenit St Petersburg and Inter Milan, came into the Italian job on the back of leading Napoli to the Scudetto in 2023, but was unable to bring that success to the national side. Italian media reports suggest Stefano Pioli, currently boss of Saudi club Al-Nassr and a Serie A title winner with AC Milan, is one of the favourites to replace Spalletti, with Claudio Ranieri's name also mentioned. Ranieri recently retired for a second time after his spell at Roma last season, but the 73-year-old could be tempted to return once more if offered his dream job with Italy.
