Italy didn't have its most talented team ever, but we at least expected the defending Euros champs to be a tough out. They were not.
COLOGNE, Germany — As Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti spluttered and ranted and criticized and generally talked himself into a muddle, you had to wonder, has there ever been a worse defense of a European Championship than this one? The answer, stunningly, is yes. Past victors of the Euros have historically struggled, with one standout exception, and in that sense, Italy's tame and uninspired exit in the Round of 16 shouldn't have been as much of a surprise as it turned out to be.
' Sure, Spalletti only came into the job with 10 months to spare, after the resignation of Roberto Mancini, though some would argue that kind of freshness can also be a positive in the right hands. Adding to his list of complaints, he said the players did not try hard enough in practice and that the media hurt Italy's chances by giving some players a 4/10 rating in its draw against Croatia, sapping their confidence.
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