Italy, Tavecchio: "Elimination was Ventura's fault. I will not resign, I will present my plans tomorrow."

As FIGC president, Carlo Tavecchio has been at the center of the controversy surrounding last week's failure by Italy to qualify for the World Cup. After the elimination at the hands of Sweden, and ahead of the Federal Council scheduled to take place Monday, Tavecchio was quoted with his comments on the situation: "I am very tired, as much physically as mentally thinking that Sweden, who has an important history, was nonetheless certainly not an impossible opponent and that this sort of debacle could have been avoided, also thanks to the 80,000 at San Siro. Why play cross after cross with players who are more than 1.90m tall? The strategy should have been different, but the fastest players were on the bench. The defeat was a technical matter and the blame is with Ventura. How come Insigne was left out? In Milan there are more than 100,000 Neapolitans, I thought that that could have convinced the coach to put him in. But no... in the last two matches there was a big mental disorganization. Insigne out, Florenzi in central midfield. Why was Ventura selected in the first place? Initially I had named Donadoni, but Saputo was opposed to it. There was also De Biasi and Montella, but they were both under contract and releasing them from million-dollar contracts was not easy, alas. Then Cairo advised me to give a chance to his ex-coach. Ventura had carte blanche in everything, he was given everything he wanted. Will I quit? I feel responsible, but I will not leave, I will not resign. Tomorrow I will present my plan and we will see if that is satisfactory enough for the trust of those who I need to support me or not. I still want to remain alive, to run, and to work. Let's not forget that I brought us the fourth Champions League spot, so I have done something good."