Ventura wants to freshen up Italy squad

ROME: New Italy coach Giampiero Ventura said on Tuesday that he wanted to build on the foundations laid by his predecessor Antonio Conte by adding more youth to the squad.

An ageing Italy outfit impressed in Euro 2016, where they chalked up excellent wins over Belgium and Spain, only to be beaten in the quarter-finals by Germany after a marathon penalty shoot-out.

“In two years we would like to have a group of players aged 21 to 23,” former Torino coach Ventura said ahead of Italy’s friendly against France in Bari on September 1.

“We have a lot of young talent. They need to play and develop in their clubs. They also need to be encouraged. As soon as a youngster plays badly, here he’s massacred.”

“I can really focus 80 percent on the details and the other 20 percent is all I need to look at the general organisation of the team. That’s what gives me hope for the future.”