Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo explains how new Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has approached the team ahead of the debut against North Macedonia. ‘We’ve got to go from words to action now.’
It kicks off in Skopje at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
This is the debut for new coach Luciano Spalletti, as Roberto Mancini resigned on August 13 and is now at the helm of the Saudi Arabia national team instead.
Their EURO 2024 qualifying group already started with a home defeat to England and 2-0 win away to Malta.
While working with Spalletti is a new experience for many in the squad, Napoli captain Di Lorenzo is in a stronger position.
“We worked hard over the last few days to immediately understand what Spalletti wants of us,” Di Lorenzo told Sky Sport Italia.
“Everyone is eager to help out and we must try to put what we practiced onto the pitch. I did not expect for us to be reunited so soon in the Nazionale. Aside from our rapport, I am also happy to work with him again because he is such a good coach.
“Now we know that we’ve got to go from words to action, doing our best for Italy.”
While Spalletti took Napoli to win their first Serie A title in over 30 years, he picks up an Italy side smarting from the failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup – thanks to a play-off defeat to tonight’s opponents North Macedonia.
“Spalletti pressed the right buttons this week. He focused on sense of belonging, the desire to wear this jersey and that is the foundation for everything.
“It will be difficult this evening, but we must start from those values and put our qualities onto the pitch. We know that we have quality and must show it in the match situation.”
There is also a Napoli player lining up for North Macedonia, as Eljif Elmas is in the starting XI.
“Elmas is a great player, but we always knew that. Personally, I think that the role of full-back has changed a great deal and we must always seek new ideas to cause problems for the opposition,” concluded Di Lorenzo.