Vicente Del Bosque feels this Italy side “reminds me of Antonio Conte’s Juventus in its ability to adapt and mutate.”
The two sides will go head-to-head at the Dacia Arena in Udine tomorrow evening at 19.45 GMT for an international friendly.
“This Italy side reminds me of Conte’s Juventus in its ability to adapt and mutate,” the Spain Coach told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“They can press, but also come back, wait and go on the counter at great pace with just a few quick passes.
Vicente Del Bosque feels this Italy side “reminds me of Antonio Conte’s Juventus in its ability to adapt and mutate.”
The two sides will go head-to-head at the Dacia Arena in Udine tomorrow evening at 19.45 GMT for an international friendly.
“This Italy side reminds me of Conte’s Juventus in its ability to adapt and mutate,” the Spain Coach told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“They can press, but also come back, wait and go on the counter at great pace with just a few quick passes.
“The defensive structure is that of his Juve and therefore at the foundation of everything. In all honesty, I don’t see big differences from Cesare Prandelli’s Italy either.
“Italy have fallen down the rankings, but the Nazionale maintained the essence of Italian football. Last week I saw Juve in Munich and I expect an Italy similar to that model: pressing, physical effort, no problem in leaving the initiative to the opposition and then hurting them on the counter.
“True, Italy have not found a world-class centre-forward, but they remain a very difficult side to face.”
Juventus went out against Bayern Munich after fumbling a 2-0 lead at the Allianz Arena, so now there are no Serie A representatives left in Europe.
“I don’t see a setback for Italian football,” assured Del Bosque. “I continue to consider your football a modern approach that is difficult for any opponent. The big European clubs are all looking for your tacticians and just a year ago Juventus reached the Champions League Final. This was just an off season.
“There are many sides that can win Euro 2016, including all the top seeds in the draw. I am thinking of Italy, Belgium, England, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, but there will certainly be another team that comes into form at the right time.
“It is a short tournament with 24 teams and therefore unpredictable. I won’t say all 24 can target the victory, but it is an ample group of aspiring outfits. If I have to say just one, then I’ll pick France, because they are on home turf.”
Spain dominated the international scene by holding the European and World titles simultaneously, but crumbled at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“Our main concern is managing to extend the season of the lads who play at big clubs and reach us after a very tough campaign.
“Instead of some much-earned rest, they have to face this ‘extra time’ tournament and we must keep them on their toes.”
Since 2000, Spanish clubs have won 23 out of 48 international trophies.
“The hegemony of Spanish football on the continent in this Century is evident. I like the fact each side won with its own style, but there is something that unites all the clubs and the national team: the desire to govern the game.
“We won because there is an evident desire for all to play well. Once in Spain the northern clubs played differently to those in the south and focused more on strength. Now that is no longer the case.
“We were also fortunate with the influx of foreign players, as let’s not forget we are in the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.”