Soccer: Italy must be up to their history - Spalletti

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 16 - Coach Luciano Spalletti said Thursday that Italy must play to a level that befits their illustrious past ahead of Friday's match against North Macedonia in Rome.
    The game is the first of two crunch Euro 2024 qualifiers, with the second being Monday's clash with Ukraine in Leverkusen in Germany.
    The reigning European champions need four points from the two games to be sure of going to next year's tournament in Germany.
    The Azzurri are third in qualification Group C with 10 points from six games, six behind already-qualified leaders England and three behind Ukraine, who have played one game more.
    "Italy will need to be up to the standard of their history, with the quality of football that you need to display at the international level," Spalletti told Sky.
    "We need an Italy team that has strong character and players who know how to face this situation.
    "We are playing for our nation and we must be ready to do everything.
    "We have prepared very well and we have a team capable of making leaps forward, not steps".
    On Friday Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni withdrew from the Italy squad with a calf injury.
    Spalletti called up AS Roma's Gianluca Mancini to take Bastoni's place. (ANSA).