Rome, 7 September (LaPresse) – Following Italy's elimination by Slovenia in the round of 16 of the European Championships, Gianmarco Pozzecco announced his departure from the national team bench. ‘It was my last game with the national team, it was my decision,’ the coach announced at a press conference. "I would like to thank President Petrucci for giving me the honour of coaching the national team: it has been the greatest honour of my life to have this role. I would like to thank General Manager Salvatore Trainotti for always believing in me. I thank my staff.‘ ’I love all my players,‘ explained Pozzecco. ’I don't care what kind of coach I am, I don't care about my career and what you think of me. In my coaching career, I focus only on my players. I'm not saying this because we lost, but because I saw them suffer. I may be the worst coach in the world, but as I told them in the dressing room, no one has the respect I have for Italian players. No one loves them more than I do." Pozzecco left the press conference visibly moved.