The Azzurri’s 10-game unbeaten run at the Euros came to an end at the hands of Luis de la Fuente’s side after Riccardo Caliafiori’s own goal in the second half.
During the defeat, Italy’s lack of attacking threat was clear, registering their fewest shots in a game on record at the Euros (four).
Italy are second in Group B, with Croatia bottom, though it is all to play for, with both sides capable of progressing or even missing out on a place in the last 16.
Maybe I needed to give them more rest, I probably need to give them more days off, we gave them a day and a half off in terms of rest and we saw that was the right decision in terms of our data,” Spalletti said.
“But there was too much of a gulf, we were constantly stretched, we probably didn’t recover very well in terms of just how demanding and important the tournament was itself, because there was too much of a gulf in terms of sharpness and freshness.”
