1 day ago
7
ESPN News Services
Jun 6, 2025, 07:48 PM ET
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma blasted his team's show arsenic "not acceptable' aft a humbling 3-0 nonaccomplishment successful Norway connected Friday to statesman their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Italy person not reached a World Cup since 2014 -- a achy drought for a federation that erstwhile stood proudly among football's elite with 4 satellite titles to their name.
First-half goals from Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland successful Oslo near Italy already connected the backfoot successful their attempts to marque it to the United States, Canada and Mexico adjacent year.
"I person nary words," Donnarumma, who was playing six days aft helping Paris Saint-Germain triumph the Champions League, said. "We request to instrumentality enactment of the show contiguous and amended -- our fans don't merit this. We request to analyse our conscience, we request to travel retired of these nights together.
"We person to find the spot due to the fact that we're Italy. These types of matches are not acceptable, everyone has to instrumentality responsibility. We person to beryllium much agreed than ever, we request it."
Only the apical squad from each radical volition suffice automatically for the finals, with the runners-up entering the playoff system, meaning Italy and manager Luciano Spalletti are already nether pressure.
His broadside were perpetually punished by a Norwegian squad that dominated connected the counterattack and they were intelligibly 2nd champion connected a rainy nighttime astatine Ullevaal Stadium.
"We request a spot much enthusiasm, arsenic individuals. We request to adhd thing more, different thing has got to change," Spalletti told reporters.
"This is not who we are, due to the fact that successful presumption of individuals, we tin bash more, but you tin besides spot this is simply a hard moment. A fewer things did hap to us, but this is the squad I chose and volition proceed with," helium added.
When asked astir his presumption arsenic the manager of the Italian nationalist team, Spalletti admitted that determination would beryllium hard speech coming up with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
"I request to speech to president [Gabriele] Gravina astir their intentions, their presumption connected the determination I make," Spalletti said.
"I chose this radical due to the fact that I thought determination was quality, but if we are truthful fragile that we don't support an offside trap, we don't pursuit down opponents, past determination is simply a deficiency of confidence.
"Quality isn't capable without that."
Spalletti was besides asked if helium is disquieted that the World Cup mightiness beryllium already retired of scope aft the nonaccomplishment to a Norway squad that person maximum points aft 3 games.
"There are ever worries, due to the fact that aft a show similar that, you intelligibly person to inquire yourself questions and realise determination are problems, but you person to look them, due to the fact that determination is nary different possibility," helium said.
Information from Reuters was utilized successful this report.
