Italy’s Conte angry over four-month gap between matches

MILAN (Reuters) – Italy coach Antonio Conte is angry that he will have to wait four months for his team’s next match after they have played Romania on Tuesday.

“It’s a real shame that we play this evening and then the squad will only get together in four months’ time, it makes me angry,” he told state broadcastser RAI in an interview. “We have found continuity, a style of play and a team which the public is enthusiastic about.”

According to FIFA’s international match calendar, the next dates for international matches are between March 21 and 29.

Italy topped Euro qualifying Group H with 24 points from 10 games as they completed the campaign unbeaten. They won their first four games this season before losing 3-1 away to Belgium in a friendly on Friday.

“There are four or five big teams ahead of us, but we are destined to improve, I’m convinced we will cause trouble for everyone,” said Conte.

“I’m really starting to feel now that this is my team. The semi-final would be a good achievement, but why not the final?”

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; editing by Justin Palmer)