International veteran Cesare Prandelli has mixed words on the Azzurri: 'I see no future for la Nazionale, but Mario Balotelli has really grown'.

The 58-year-old was at the helm of the Italian national team for the successful Euro 2012 expedition, in which he reached the final, and the disastrous World Cup 2014, which saw him crashing out at the groups.

In an interview with Radio Anch'io Sport, the Coach revealed a deep pessimism about the national team's prospects.

“It's hard to see a future for la Nazionale,” he said.

International veteran Cesare Prandelli has mixed words on the Azzurri: 'I see no future for la Nazionale, but Mario Balotelli has really grown'.

The 58-year-old was at the helm of the Italian national team for the successful Euro 2012 expedition, in which he reached the final, and the disastrous World Cup 2014, which saw him crashing out at the groups.

In an interview with Radio Anch'io Sport, the Coach revealed a deep pessimism about the national team's prospects.

“It's hard to see a future for la Nazionale,” he said.

“You can see a future when our youngsters are developing, when you have a plan ahead for the next four to eight years.

“But if our lads reach the age of 20 and are competitive at the European level, and then end up finding no space in our championship then it means that Italian football has some problems.

“Clubs have too much power. Their interests are purely financial, I'm very pessimistic and I've experienced that on my own skin.

“The national team garners some interest only when there's a Euro Cup or a World Cup, there's no drive to heal a sick football system because we're unable to produce our own players. We've got some problems.

“If everybody agreed that the most important team in Italy is the national team then we'd have solved all of our problems, you could plan your future alongside the clubs.

“[Current Coach Antonio] Conte? He can't say no to the national team, it's a responsibility.”

Prandelli then went back to last year's World Cup failure.

“I took full responsibility for it, especially for my own shortcomings, because the technical set-up didn't work.

“If we weren't able to create goal-scoring opportunities against Costa Rica it means the set-up wasn't working, even though it functioned perfectly against England.

“Going back, would I resign? I don't know, there was a special situation.”

In the end, however, the Coach had some positive things to say about his most discussed international pupil, Balotelli.

“I think this time Balotelli can show all of his value,” he said of the player's recent move to Milan.

“I read his statements, he spoke of his father and his wish to work hard.

“I think Mario has a greater sense of responsibility now.”

Byandrea

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