- Italian coach Luciano Spalletti is strict with discipline and has applied new rules
- Spalletti’s men are not favorites to retain the trophy won three years ago
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Luciano Spalletti banned his players from wearing headphones and imposed strict limits on games as he tries to help Italy remain European champions.
The Azzurri coach is a stickler for discipline and has wasted no time in letting his team know they are in Germany for work, even frowning at too much laughter and jokes during training ahead of the tournament’s first match against Albania on Saturday.
Spalletti’s men are not favorites to retain the trophy they won three years ago after a troubled qualifying campaign. Roberto Mancini was replaced by Spalletti midway through, after he quit to sign a huge contract as Saudi Arabia boss.
But Spalletti, who led Napoli to the Serie A title a year ago, has wasted no time in making his mark on the national team. Shortly after his appointment, he presented his players with a copy of Legacy, which detailed the secrets behind the New Zealand All Blacks’ enduring success in rugby.
The most famous of these is the team’s ‘No idiots’ policy, and Spalletti cited the phrase last October when outlining his plans for the task at hand.
Luciano Spalletti banned headphones and imposed strict limits on Italian players
The defending champions are preparing to face Albania in their first Euro clash on Saturday.
Punctuality is key for Spalletti, who prevents his players from using the phone at mealtime. Tactical meetings take place at midday, with lunch at 12:45 before afternoon training and dinner at 8. Consoles can only be played in the games room at the team hotel near Dortmund, and Players cannot take theirs to their rooms.
Former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca suffered Spalletti’s iron fist when he was left out of a mini-tournament in the United States earlier this year, with Spalletti explaining: “You don’t come here to play video games until 4 in the morning. A From now on they leave their consoles at home and will not bring them back.’
Italy will be hoping to create some fun of their own this afternoon/Saturday night, but it won’t be easy against Albania as Spalletti’s men lack attacking strength, although the likely return of key midfielder Nicolo Barella can only help.