Italy manager Luciano Spalletti hits out at reporter in tense exchange

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti hit back at a mischievous reporter in a bitter exchange after Italy crashed out of Euro 2024.

Spalletti had seen his side lose 2-0 to Switzerland to be dumped out of the competition.

And the journalist invoked Spalletti's wrath after asking if Italy had been like a Fiat panda racing against a Ferrari.

'We have to accept everything, even bad jokes like yours,' Spalletti said.

'I understand that you are a person of great irony and enormous quality.

'But you are right, they were better than us, they deservedly won. We will try to do better next time.'

The 65-year-old then ominously demanded to know the journalist's name and publication, perhaps seeking to ban him from future press conferences.

After that Spalletti thanked him, smiled wryly, and gave a thumbs-up.

While he did not lash out in an aggressive manner, it was clear that Spalletti was not happy with the question he had been asked.

Italy were off the pace as they slumped to the 2-0 defeat by Switzerland, falling well short of their heroics in Euro 2020, when they won the tournament via a penalty shoot-out victory over England.

Remo Freuler stunned Italy in the first half when he put his side ahead with a volley at the near post.

The reigning champions had half-time to regroup but were quickly 2-0 down when Ruben Vargas curled a stunning strike into the far top corner from the edge of the area.

From there the Italians huffed and puffed but could not find a way back in to the game, allowing the Swiss a second consecutive quarter-final berth.

All the same, Spalletti is confirmed to stay on as Italy head coach until at least the 2026 World Cup. 'My mission will be to make this squad even younger,' he said.