Spain Coach Julen Lopetegui sees similarities between Antonio Conte and Giampiero Ventura and believes Serie A has done some of his players good.
La Roja will travel to Italy to take on the Azzurri in Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier in a game likely to be key in determining the winners of the group.
Speaking to La Gazzetta Sportiva, the former Porto boss admitted his team face a tough test at Juventus Stadium and does not expect Italy to have changed much from Conte’s Euro 2016 team.
Spain Coach Julen Lopetegui sees similarities between Antonio Conte and Giampiero Ventura and believes Serie A has done some of his players good.
La Roja will travel to Italy to take on the Azzurri in Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier in a game likely to be key in determining the winners of the group.
Speaking to La Gazzetta Sportiva, the former Porto boss admitted his team face a tough test at Juventus Stadium and does not expect Italy to have changed much from Conte’s Euro 2016 team.
“We only have two or three days to prepare for the match and we meet a group of players who have played six very demanding matches in the last 18 days,” Lopetegui began.
“The first aim is to organise ourselves. Italy are a difficult rival because they have great individual players and they have a collective function based on years of practice.
“They have worked in the same way for a long time and you can tell. I don’t think the change of Coach will have a negative effect on that.
“Italy’s idea of playing will not change from Conte to Ventura. They are very similar.”
Spain’s squad contains Napoli duo Pepe Reina and the newly recalled Jose Callejon, with Lopetegui then discussing several Spanish players who have played in Serie A.
“Callejon had been very close to a call-up last time. We have followed him closely. Italy has been very good for him tactically and mentally.
“Borja Valero is a great player with fantastic qualities. But in his position the competition is very high.
“Last season, Reina was one of the best in Serie A, there isn’t much else to say.
“Morata definitely matured a lot at Juventus. He was instumental being able to consistently play. It was a fantastic move which was good for all parties.”