Gravina calls Italy loss ‘unacceptable’ before meeting Spalletti | OneFootball

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina admits Italy’s 3-0 loss against Norway was unacceptable: ‘We were not prepared to face an opponent like this.’

Italy are preparing for the second World Cup qualifying match against Moldova on June 9, but are still licking their wounds after a 3-0 loss against Norway.

Gravina breaks silence on Italy’s loss against Norway

epa11726490 Italy’s head coach Luciano Spalletti reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Italy and France at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 17 November 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

“You can lose to Norway, but not in that manner; it’s unacceptable,” FIGC President Gravina said on Sunday, via Eurosport.

“The season has worn the lads out, and we were not prepared to face an opponent like this.

“I don’t even think about another World Cup without Italy.”

Gravina set to meet Spalletti

epa10835406 Italy’s national soccer team head coach Luciano Spalletti (R) and President of the Italian Football Federation Gabriele Gravina attend a press conference in Coverciano in Florence, Italy, 02 September 2023. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI

Gravina is due to meet Italy coach Spalletti on Tuesday after the game against Moldova.

The Azzurri coach risks sacking, and the likes of Stefano Pioli and Claudio Ranieri have already been linked with the job.

Spalletti replaced Roberto Mancini as Italy’s national team coach in September 2023 and has won 11 games from 23, with six losses and six draws.

Italy haven’t won any of their last four games across all competitions, losing three times and drawing once.

They’ve conceded 11 goals in the last four outings and scored just five.

Italy have not played at the World Cup since 2014, failing to qualify for the competition in 2018 under Gian Piero Ventura and in 2022 under Mancini.