Conte: 'No new faces for Euro 2016'

By Football Italia staff

Antonio Conte warned he will not call up new players who haven’t already featured for Italy to play Euro 2016.

The Azzurri were thrashed 4-1 by Germany in a friendly this evening, the final test before picking his squad for the tournament.

“It is never pleasing to lose, that’s for sure, but we also said that we wanted to face the best to understand the distance between us,” said the Coach in a Press conference.

“In all honesty, I cannot complain about the effort and determination of my lads. I think a few paid for the physical strain of playing on Thursday against Spain.

“We have to play in a very organised fashion and at double speed to bridge the gap with Germany, who are World Cup holders for a good reason.

“Even when we had the chances, we didn’t finish them off and showed a lack of experience. We have to compliment our opponents for their performance and clinical finishing.”

This is the first time since the 2013 Confederations Cup, 4-2 to Brazil, that Italy have conceded four goals.

“I think Germany changed their system and mirrored us, because usually Germany play with a 4-2-3-1. When you have the kind of players at their disposal who can allow you to change system from one moment to the next, it can make it one against one, a series of individual duels.”

Conte was asked whether this debacle would prompt him to seek other alternatives, but he slammed the door on the likes of Domenico Berardi.

“We tried to select the best players available right now, so I don’t see what could change after this game or in the final few months of the campaign.

“I’ll choose within this group that has already been called, taking into account those who were out injured.

“We always have to make choices. I changed five player from the Spain match because I wanted to see players who had come off the bench then, including Insigne, Montolivo, Bernardeschi and Zaza.

“Unfortunately Bonucci’s injury meant I was unable to introduce Jorginho. I saw some responses. I will now make my evaluations based on what I see on the pitch, without going over the top about the Spain performance or distraught by Germany.

“After this game we have more choices, that is true. I cannot scrap anyone. I only slam players when they lack effort, but I didn’t see that today.

“I will monitor what happens in the next month and a half to try and get my choices right. However, these are the players we are choosing from. In the next six weeks we won’t pull something different out of the hat.”

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