In a closely contested match against Spain, Italy's head coach Luciano Spalletti stood by his distinctive fashion choice, sporting an Armani jacket that drew criticism back home. Inspired by Italy's attire from the 1928 Olympic games, Spalletti defended his outfit, expressing his determination to maintain his unique style both on and off the pitch.

Despite a valiant effort, Italy's Armani suit was left in need of a good dry clean by the end of the match, as Spain dominated the game. The scoreline may have shown a narrow 1-0 victory for Spain, courtesy of a Riccardo Calafiori own goal, but without the crossbar and several missed chances from Spain, it could have mirrored the Euro 2012 final when Spain triumphed 4-0.

Prior to the game, Spalletti anticipated the challenges his team would face against Spain's possession-oriented style of play. He emphasized the need for quicker reactions and a deep understanding of the opponent's strategy. Despite the loss, Spalletti stuck with his preferred starting XI, with an emphasis on building out from the back and clean passing.

Italy's pass completion percentage dropped to the low 80s, while Spain enjoyed a pass completion rate in the 90s. Spalletti's predicted challenges surfaced as Spain forced Italy to play on the backfoot. At halftime, Spalletti made tactical substitutions to counter Spain's dominance, bringing in players like Bryan Cristante to add physicality to the midfield.

Though Italy struggled to apply Spalletti's strategic approach, the coach remained true to his principles, affirming that a counter-attacking style is insufficient against strong teams like Spain. He stressed the importance of possession and Italy's unique brand of football to combat opponents' physicality.

Spalletti took responsibility for the loss and acknowledged that his team appeared sluggish on the field, attributing it partly to the players' exhaustive physical preparation in the preceding weeks. Despite the defeat, Spalletti remains committed to his footballing philosophy, rejecting the idea of drastically changing his approach. He believes that possession-based football should remain at the core of Italy's game plan.

Looking ahead, Italy is still well-positioned to progress in the tournament, either as runners-up or a third-place finisher. With only ten months in charge, Spalletti's ideas are still taking shape, and he will continue to stay true to his style. He expressed the need for time and support from the Italian Football Federation to mold the team according to his vision.

As Italy prepares for their upcoming match against Croatia, they must quickly regroup and learn from the defeat to Spain. Spalletti is determined not to let this setback deter their progress, emphasizing the importance of a better performance in the next game. Italy remains a team proudly Made in Italy, representing their nation with passion and determination on the international stage.