What unfolded at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday evening was disappointing for Dino Zoff, yet the captain of the 1982 World Cup-winning Italy team believes that Roberto Mancini‘s squad has only one direction to go: upwards.
In an interview with La Repubblica following the 0-2 defeat to Belgium, Zoff pointed out the nervousness that gripped the team early on.
“At the start, they seemed very frightened. The first half was tough for them. Later, the team began to fight back, but the tension I saw at the very beginning really struck me,” Zoff said.
Italy now face three more Nations League matches within ten days, beginning with an away game against Turkey, coached by Vincenzo Montella. Zoff sees value in this demanding schedule.
“There needs to be less talk and more work. The upcoming three matches are important; the players will have time together. We are at the start of a new journey, and although time is short, I remain quite optimistic,” Zoff remarked.
When asked about the team’s issues, the former goalkeeper highlighted the attacking line.
“I would say the problems lie in the attack. That’s exactly where the difficulties arose. Even in the second half, we couldn’t score. We need to find quality performers,” Zoff emphasized.
While acknowledging that the current challenge is tougher than in 2018, this fact gives him hope.
“Yes, that’s clear. We are going through a difficult period. But it’s also true that things couldn’t get worse. That actually works in our favor, making it easier to improve. In our situation, we can only move forward,” Zoff concluded.
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