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When Italy were humbled by Norway in their opening World Cup qualifier on Friday night, the response from Gazzetta dello Sport was as measured as you would expect. “ENOUGH!” screamed the pink paper’s front-page headline the next day, while the lengthy howl of anguish over which it appeared declared that the country’s “World Cup is already at risk”. While Luciano Spalletti had been bullish in the immediate aftermath of his knack-ravaged side’s 3-0 defeat in Oslo, on Sunday he cut a far more forlorn figure as he appeared alone before a bloodthirsty press-pack to preview the qualifier against Moldova, unaccompanied by any of his players or even a simpering national team media handler.
“I spoke with [Italian FA chief suit Gabriele] Gravina last night and he informed me that I will be relieved of my duties as national team coach,” Spalletti sniffed, salty tears visible as his hawk-eyed not-quite-former Signor Gravina peered his way from the front row. “I am disappointed: given the relationship we have, I had no intention of stepping down. Especially when things are not going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job. However, it is a dismissal and I have to accept it. I have always seen this role as a service to my country and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it is right to seek the best solution.” While Italian panic at the prospect of missing out on a third consecutive World Cup is as understandable as it is stereotypical, it could be argued the knee-jerk decision to bundle Spalletti out of the door marked Do One is more than a little shabby and not just because he had to announce his own dismissal and will still be in charge later, when Italy host Moldova.
