Friday 25 March 2016 12:12, UK
Antonio Conte said he got the required response from his Italy players after playing an untried 3-4-3 formation against Spain.
Conte, who will quit his Italy post after Euro 2016 amid reports he is moving to Chelsea, deployed a formation that included a few surprise additions in the 1-1 draw at Udinese's Stadio Friuli on Thursday.
But the doubts raised before the game gave way to cautious optimism as a new-look Italy, who have failed to make it past the first round of the past two World Cups, played some attractive stuff in a game that ended the European champions' seven-game winning run.
The performance has given Conte belief that, in France this summer, there will be no repeat of the disjointed campaign that saw Italy limp home from Brazil two years ago.
"I got the answers I was looking for but we have to keep our heads down and keep on working with the enthusiasm that the lads have been showing," said Conte.
"I can promise this to all the Italian people: we will have a team, and a great group of players, who want to fight for this shirt."
