Sabatini: "The national team should function like a club, what is needed is crazy devotion to the colors"

 In an interview for the Italian daily Corriere dello Sport, Walter Sabatini commented on how the game of the Italian national team could be improved. "My thoughts are that the national team should function like a club and be treated like a club, with the consent of the clubs, of course. There should be an end to random appointments. I would like to create a group that would be treated like Roma, Inter or Milan. I imagine a squad of 22-23 players, which could be supplemented when needed and for merits. This way they can be controlled, they need to be entertained in some way, given a sense of responsibility. They should be created a solid bond with the coaches. The players must feel that they are part of a real team, not a temporary one. Why did Buffon and Gattuso start in the national team? Because the players had to be treated as players who were supposed to be in the national team. This was not emphasized in previous terms day, not that they are waiting for the announcement of call-ups and only then they are in the national team. There must be some crazy devotion to the national colors, and this devotion must be nurtured and stimulated."