Fabio Capello doesn't mince his words and, on the day of the umpteenth surrender of the National team, he goes straight to the point about everything and everyone. From the attitude on the pitch to the chaos of the call-ups, from Spalletti's role to the lack of love for the Azzurri: according to the former coach, Italy's crisis is deep and starts precisely from those who should feel honored to wear that shirt.
“The worst thing? Knowing that many players didn't want to go to the national team. A disgrace. When I hear that the love for the blue is missing I get so angry that I want to break everything”, Capello told the microphones of I also radio sports. The reference is clear, from the flat rates of Calafiori and Good morning to the Acerbi case, a series of absences that undermined the group even before kick-off.
Then the technical analysis, merciless: "Spalletti tried to give a game, but the players didn't follow him. In Germany we offered a pitiful spectacle, at certain moments I was ashamed". According to Capello, the main blame should not be sought on the bench: "The players are the real culprits. No running, zero help between teammates, total passivity. Now we want to see the opposite, otherwise it's better to stay home."
Capello: “Ranieri the right man, but there is a structural problem”
Meanwhile, the future is calling and the hunt for a new coach has begun. Capello has only one certainty: "Ranieri is the right man. He has charisma, he knows everyone, he knows how to get into the players' heads. We need someone like him to rebuild the team's spirit." The model? Inter: "Today the team that best represents Italy is the Nerazzurri. We need to bring that spirit to the national team."
But the problem, for Capello, is also structural. "Young Italians don't play, we prefer foreigners. Dribbling has become a taboo. We need to rethink everything, from the base to the football schools. Velasco is right: someone like Yamal would never have even made his debut in Italy."
And to the Italy team that will take the field against Moldova, the former coach sends a final message full of bitterness and pride: “Run, fight, honor the jersey and send a signal. Maybe even with a nice final “fuck you”, because it makes you wonder: but why didn’t you do it before?”
Article published on 9 June 2025 - 12:22
I think what Capello said is true, but I don't understand why everyone only talks about the players. The coaches also need to do more. The national team needs a change, but not only in the players, but also in the strategies.