Spalletti had aimed to dominate possession against Spain, but Italy managed only 40% of the ball and failed to register a shot on target.
In contrast, Spain’s Nico Williams hit the crossbar, Gianluigi Donnarumma made two crucial saves, and Riccardo Calafiori scored an own goal.
Spalletti explained to Sky Sport Italia, “I wasn’t disappointed, but Spain was clearly sharper. If you don’t match their speed, everything becomes more difficult. They were quicker in their decisions, pressing, and teamwork.”
He acknowledged that Italy’s physicality and positioning were lacking, saying, “When the legs don’t move and the distances aren’t right, character can only do so much. We were always stretched out and lost the ball quickly after winning it back. Our decisions lacked precision and logic.”
Italy’s Path Forward
Despite the loss, Italy can still advance to the Round of 16 with a draw against Croatia, thanks to a better head-to-head record against Albania.
Spalletti emphasized the need to recover and adjust tactics, noting, “We need to learn from today’s game. Spain was quicker in their reactions and movements. We must be capable of reasoning better and keeping the team tighter.”
He attributed the lack of sharpness to physical issues, not psychological ones, and pointed out that Italy struggled to match Spain’s style of play. “We were against a team that plays good football and should have shown we were just as good, but they were more reactive,” he said.
Italy will face Croatia in a crucial Group B match on Monday, June 24.