The past cannot be erased, it is better to focus on the present and the future. Saturday theItaly returns to face that in the European qualifiers Northern Macedonia which in March 2022 stopped the Azzurri's run towards the World Cup in Qatar. “But there is no revenge – he assures Gigio Donnarumma during 'Azzurri Live' on the FIGC social channels – We have to look at ourselves first and it will certainly be an important match. We all know that we didn't go to the World Cup because of that match. – the reference to the Barbera defeat – so we are all a little angry and we want to do well and win this race".
“But it won't be easy, I was there too when we won 3-2 in Macedonia (in 2016, ed.). It's a complicated field so we'll have to prepare well, but we have to be careful with the belief that we can do great things." Italy, meanwhile, has turned the page on the bench: he has left Roberto Mancini, has arrived in its place Luciano Spalletti, the architect of the Scudetto Naples last season.
“I didn't know Mister Spalletti but we all know what he has done in recent years and last year with Napoli so I was super optimistic – continues Donnarumma – Then I met him here and we will surely have a great journey. We have started a new one, we are happy, we are optimistic and we will surely do great things - adds - Now we have two important matches that we cannot afford to lose and we will definitely go to Macedonia to play our game and try to win as we will do in Milan against Ukraine”.
Donnarumma also recalled his debut for Italy, against Holland in 2017. "How can I forget it? I was ready because I knew that at the end of the first half the coach would let me debut, so I was excited. The debut with the national team is a different emotion than the one with the club, I was very happy, and I still keep it in mind, I have a tattoo that reminds me of it". Finally a joke about Buffon, returned to the national team as the new head of the Italian delegation: “He is always the same person, he is here with great enthusiasm, he helps everyone, just his presence gives you a strength that is different. We are very happy to have him with us”.
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