The anticipation is building as Italy prepares to face Israel in a crucial Nations League match at home on Monday. While Italy currently sits atop Group A2, just one point ahead of France, manager Luciano Spalletti is not taking anything for granted. He remains undecided about his starting lineup, emphasizing the danger he sees in Israel’s approach.
Spalletti addressed the media on Sunday, acknowledging the difficulty of the match. “I don’t know exactly who will start because it’s a very delicate game with many hidden dangers,” he said. However, he did confirm that Guglielmo Vicario will be in goal, replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Spalletti described Israel as a “good team that can play football.” He highlighted the need for Italy to maintain their composure and organizational structure, stressing the importance of taking control of the game. “Israel won’t have the same attitude they showed against us or with France, as at times they sit deep and wait, at others they try to press you,” Spalletti added.
The two teams last met in Budapest, with Italy emerging victorious 2-1 thanks to goals from Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean. But Spalletti believes that this time, the match will be different.
Italy’s most recent match saw them draw 2-2 with Belgium, a disappointing result after they had taken a two-goal lead. Lorenzo Pellegrini’s red card late in the first half proved costly, and Spalletti acknowledged the need to learn from this setback. “The problem we learned from the last game is that in football one incident can ruin all the good work, so we must always learn from our mistakes,” he said.
As the match approaches, the Italian camp remains focused, determined to secure a positive result against Israel. Spalletti’s careful approach and emphasis on the importance of avoiding errors underline the seriousness with which he takes this encounter. The match promises to be a tense and exciting affair, with both teams eager to claim victory.
