That match against Moldova, on Monday at Stadio 'Citta del Tricolore' in Reggio Emilia, will be Luciano Spalletti's last game in charge of the National Team. Spalletti explained: "Yesterday the President told me that I'd been relieved of my duties. I was disappointed, I never intended on giving up especially when things are going badly. I'd have preferred to keep my position and continue doing my job. But then, I have to acknowledge, in respect of the good relationship that I have with the President, the journey we have undertaken and his support of me. Given that I've seen this role as a commitment to the country, I intend to support the National Team in any way in the future: tomorrow evening I'll be there as a Coach, and then I will terminate my contract. It would've been worse playing the game today with this doubt and speculation. After speaking to the President, we decided on doing it like this, taking responsibility. Even though I won't be the Coach, we have to fulfil this duty". 

This morning, on the stage at the Festival della Serie A in Parma, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina spoke: "These instrumental and useless attacks are hurtful. I was annoyed by the lack of accurate information on the subject. Luciano Spalletti is the most honourable person that I've ever met. He's an extraordinary person, who is trying to bring forward an extraordinary project. The attacks towards him are undeserved. I say it with pain and bitterness because he's a really good person. You can lose, but you have to understand how you lose, the kind of thing Gigi Buffon refers to, which could and should've led to a better outcome. Understanding how you lose, but a loss like that, I couldn't accept. There's no rift, just a lack of clarity and there's also fatigue. We have to go to the World Cup, there's lots of games to go".

Spalletti still expects a reaction from the team after the loss to Norway: there will be more than 17,000 fans in attendance for the match. "I've always sustained that my players are strong. Under my management, given the results have gone a certain way, I must take responsibility: I've received lots of support from the Federation, but the results didn't come. Winning and convincing tomorrow will be the best possible way to pave the way for the person who will replace me. I love this shirt, the job, the players and I ask them to demonstrate what I've always expected from them. However, I see many players performing below their potential". 

On Monday, Italy will look to get their first points in Group I: "We have to play a match worthy of the name we represent and the shirt we wear. Character makes the difference. I don't want to end playing the way we did the other night: I want to end with a good win, also because I'm convinced that these are the right players to take us to the World Cup, and I hope they continue to be because it will mean that my choices were correct. I would have continued with this group, but there are evaluations to one made about how we approached these games. Even those who came back from injuries are still players that showed that they're good enough to be called up". 

LUCCA Before Spalletti spoke, it was time for Lorenzo Lucca: "I am concentrated and if the Coach decides to start me, I'll be happy. If I am subbed on, I'll be just as happy. We have to stay concentrated and together: we are fully concentrated on the match, we didn't manage to get the win in Norway but I don't think the campaign fully depends on that match. We have to prove to the fans that it was a bad step, three points tomorrow are fundamental. Difficult moments are overcome together".