Azzurri Boss reveals that he will leave after Moldova, before storming the press conference

Luciano Spalletti has been dismissed as Italy coach, but he will supervise the World Cup qualifiers with Moldova before leaving his position.

Italy, which has not been qualified for the World Cup since 2014, when it came out in the group stage, has achieved a horrific start to qualify for the 2026 championship on Friday.

Azzurrri 3-0 was crushed by Norway, who were now going through nine points in the European Union qualified group. Both second place from Group 12 will advance to the separation matches.

In the face of the humiliating possibility of losing the World Cup 48 teams, Italy acted, and Spalletti refused less than two years after the job.

Spalletti revealed the decision at a fiery press conference before Monday’s match with Moldova in Reggio Emilia, which will be farewell now.

“We talked last night and told me that I will rest from my position as a key coach for the national team,” said Spalletti.

“I was sorry, given the relationship we have, I had no intention to surrender.

“I preferred to stay and do my work, especially when things are not going well. However, if that is an acquittal, I must accept it. I have always seen this role as a service for the homeland, and I want to help the future of the national team.

“I think it is right to search for the best, I will end my contract. I will be there tomorrow night against Moldova. I have always confirmed that my players are strong. The results under my administration are what they are and I must take responsibility.

“I love this shirt, this job and the players I trained. Tomorrow I will ask them to provide what I asked of them, even if I couldn’t make them show their best.

“I didn’t want to finish the other night position, but with a good game. I have always told the boys that they are the right men to go to the World Cup. There were complications, but I now expected a level of awareness and to get them to show that they are still the right men.”

In response to a question about what he said at his meeting with the President of the Italian Football Association, Gabriel Gravina, Spalletti replied: “I would continue with this group. There is an evaluation that can be made on how we reached these games.

“Many players were worn at the end of the season, we were not in the best shape. But they are players. Even those who were injured in a position allowing them to call.”

Spalleti led Italy to Euro 2024, but defending its European title ended with a 2-0 surprise against Switzerland in the last 16.

11 of his 23 games won, six.

Click on whether it will change anything from his time as a coach, Spalletti said: “I don’t know either. I was convinced that he will not be a picnic in the garden, but I am still going to the World Cup. I am still convinced of that. This was still my conviction when talking to Gravina.

“My world does not collapse when I lose games. There is a position between vision and acceptance of the result, but I am much lower than the required level because these are strong players. Thinking about the past is a waste of time. You cannot influence the past. It is necessary now to play a game that deserves the shirt we wear.”

Spalletti stormed after he was asked whether he was betrayed by Gravina, who will now be assigned to find a successor, with Claudio Ranieri and Stefano Pioli seen as a job candidate.