PA Media/DPA
London
Italy boss Luciano Spalletti feels a collective effort has been behind their successful Nations League Group A2 campaign as his squad look to wrap up top spot against France at San Siro on Sunday.
The Azzurri beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels on Thursday night to make sure of a place in the knockout stages, which start in March and will be played over two legs.
Italy need just a point to make sure of progressing as top seeds - while even defeat in Milan could also see them finish ahead of Les Bleus depending on the scoreline.
“The praise doesn’t just go to me, but to all the players, even those who came off the bench and even those who didn’t come on,” Spalletti said.
“With Belgium, everyone was pushing - this is a huge quality for a group.
“At this moment, more than the victories, we need to make the boys feel that we appreciate their attachment to the shirt, and the result is often a consequence of this.”
While both sides are already qualified for the quarter-finals, Spalletti insists there can be no complacency.
“We have to go and play the game we have to play, without calculations, without reasoning,” the Italy boss told a press conference.
“The draw can only come from the failure of both teams to win – and it will be very easy for France to try to do everything to win.”
