Italy coach Antonio Conte said
Wednesday that he still has faith in his players after Tuesday's
4-1 drubbing in Germany.
"I have faith in my lads. I know I can count on them,"
Conte, who is set to leave the national team after Euro 2016,
told ANSA.
"But we all have to keep our feet on the ground. We come
off the back of failure at the World Cup (in 2014)," he added
after the defeat in the Azzurri's last match before he makes his
selections for his Euro 2016 squad.
"The number of players who can be called up from Serie A
has halved in 10 years and we were aware of the gap with the top
nations.
"We can't (just) be a selection (of good players) we have
to be a team.
"When I said that these are the players I have, I recall
that I haven't left out any possible Italy player.
"I have to work on them for the European championships".
Italy have now not won in four games and Tuesday's was
their third defeat under Conte after losses to Portugal and
Belgium.
The coach said that was not not depressed after Tuesday
thrashing from the world champions just like we did not get
carried away after Thursday's impressive 1-1 draw with European
champions Spain.
Before the Germany game Conte said he had decided on 16
of the 23 men he will include in his Euro 2016 squad.
He stressed that the Munich debacle had not radically
changed things.
"I said it yesterday and I reiterate it with a cold head
now - I have't given anyone the thumbs down because there was
maximum effort yesterday.
"I got answers. We hadn't solved all our problems with the
draw with Spain and we have't not uncovered them all after the
defeat with Germany.
"We all have to stay with our feet firmly on the ground,
remembering where we came from and knowing that we'll see the
path we taking when it bears fruit.
"The two matches (against Spain and Germany) were
important to reduce the doubts to a minimum".
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