Prandelli may reconsider position as Italy coach

Associated Press Sports

updated 1:50 p.m. ET July 2, 2012

KRAKOW, Poland (AP) -Cesare Prandelli said Monday he may reconsider his decision to stay on as Italy coach if he is not given more time with his players.

Prandelli had said after Italy's 4-0 loss to Spain in the European Championship final on Sunday that he would remain at the helm. But a day later, he said "I respect the federation and everyone who wants to do something, like us. If the problems aren't solved in six months, if I have to coach a squad only twice in eight months, I will reflect on things.

"I decided to stay because I saw there is a common desire to change. I met with the federation and they made me certain of that. They told me they wanted to continue on this road."

Prandelli was upset that Italian clubs did not allow him to hold any mini-training camps with his squad during the season but he has been assured that Serie A teams will be reminded of the national team's importance.

Italy's next match is an Aug. 15 friendly against England, which comes four days after the Italian Super Cup between Juventus and Napoli in Beijing.

"We want to involve all the different parties," Prandelli said. "If we play on Aug. 15 against England, when will the Italian Super Cup be played? Aug. 12 ... Where will they play? In Beijing. People need to be sensitive to the national team's needs, no one cares at all about the Azzurri and then everyone's a patriot only during a tournament."

Prandelli is keen for Italy to learn lessons from Spain, which completed an unprecedented hat-trick of two continental titles and a World Cup.

"We have to change," he said. "We played a team that has been working with consistency on a project. It's a shame we didn't face Spain with a couple more days' rest, that's the only slight regret. But we have to recognize their superiority and their ability for consistency.

"I want to see that we want to change, and it has to be a long term change. Winning the Euros would have been good, but it would have shaken the equilibrium. Maybe we're not yet ready: when we will be, we will win again and again, with consistency and without ups and downs."

Prandelli said that this change will only come about if the federation works with the league and the clubs.

"We have to find and evaluate players who have the potential to take over from lads such as (Andrea) Pirlo, even though I hope he plays another two years with us," Prandelli said. "We need someone near him who can be ready, but if he doesn't play European football how can he grow?

"We want to work with the clubs, we don't want to change their plans, we want to check how the lads are progressing every two months or so. If I have just three training session every eight months, I don't know if I'm up to it. I'm a hands-on coach, someone who works on the pitch, I would need to take Italy forward by working like that, in this way."

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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