Antonio Conte tried to shrug off the 4-1 friendly defeat to Germany, acknowledging Italy have “a gap to be bridged” at Euro 2016.
The Nazionale had not lost to Germany since 1995, another friendly encounter, while they are now without a victory in nine friendlies.
“I had said beforehand we needed these important tests to evaluate ourselves. We certainly met the best side, and that includes Spain last week,” Conte told Rai Sport.
Antonio Conte tried to shrug off the 4-1 friendly defeat to Germany, acknowledging Italy have “a gap to be bridged” at Euro 2016.
The Nazionale had not lost to Germany since 1995, another friendly encounter, while they are now without a victory in nine friendlies.
“I had said beforehand we needed these important tests to evaluate ourselves. We certainly met the best side, and that includes Spain last week,” Conte told Rai Sport.
“We saw, we worked, the lads gave all they had to give and now we’ll evaluate the situation.
“I repeat, there was no need to act triumphant after Spain and we realise there is a gap to be bridged to the other team.
“Now we’ll wait for the season to end and try to pick the best players.
“To play with a high tempo and intensity, you need it in your legs. It was inevitable some would suffer the effects of Friday’s games and that too will be evaluated.”
Conte said before this game that he had 16 certainties for the Euro 2016 squad and seven doubts. Did any of those change tonight?
“There are players who will be part of the Euros, then we’ll wait for the end of the season to pick the players in the best shape.”
To make matters worse, Leonardo Bonucci was stretchered off with a suspected knee sprain.
“Bonucci’s injury damaged the plan I had for the second half.”