Cagliari head coach Zdenek Zeman believes Italians need to improve as the tactician reacted to Antonio Conte’s decision to hand international call-ups to two players born outside of Italy, Palermo’s Franco Vazquez and Sampdoria forward Eder.
The pair have been included in the Italy international squad for the first time ahead of the upcoming fixtures against Bulgaria and England. Inter coach Roberto Mancini has strongly opposed the call-ups, suggesting only Italians should be part of the national team set-up.
“There is a rule and it is something that you can do. Now it is up to Italians to do better than those that have come from afar,” Zeman told the press at today’s meeting of Serie A executives, referees, coaches and captains.
“A player born in a country is expected to be called up by their national team, Italians will need to improve to be summoned by Antonio Conte.”
