Sacchi on Acerbi’s wrong Italy decision and Baggio comparison | OneFootball

Arrigo Sacchi is ‘disappointed’ that Francesco Acerbi refused to play for Italy: ‘He sees the national team as a personal matter.’

Acerbi refused to play for the Azzurri for World Cup qualifying matches against Norway and Moldova and is unlikely to feature for the Nazionale again.

Sacchi tells Acerbi: ‘You can’t refuse a call-up to the national team’

Erling Haaland (L) of Manchester City heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Inter in Manchester, Britain, 18 September 2024. EPA-EFE/ADAM VAUGHAN

Spalletti announced Acerbi’s snub during a press conference attended by Football Italia on Sunday, and the defender hit back, saying that he didn’t feel part of the coach’s project.

“An unfortunate incident. You can’t refuse a call-up to the national team,” Sacchi told Gazzetta.

“When you wear the Azzurri jersey, you represent an entire nation. Refusing the call-up means Acerbi sees the national team as a personal matter and prioritises his own interests over those of the group. The situation truly disappointed me.”

The Gazzetta reporter argued that Sacchi faced a similar situation in the past with Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Baggio.

Wrong. It was I who stopped calling up Vialli because he struggled with competition from Baggio,” he noted.

Sacchi: Italy must not fear Norway

BELGRADE, SERBIA – JUNE 02: Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates after victory in the UEFA Nations League League B Group 4 match between Serbia and Norway at Stadion Rajko Mitić on June 02, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

“I didn’t want to fuel the rivalry with the national team.”

During the same interview, Sacchi said the Azzurri should not fear Norway and Erling Haaland on June 6.

“If we were, then we might as well stay home,” he argued.

“If they have one good player, we must have 11. Understand? The problem isn’t Haaland, the problem is us. We need to play as a team, we need to start seeing football as an expression of the collective, not of individuals.

“Fear is a synonym of weakness, in sport and in life. It’s right to respect our opponents, but never fear them.”