Antonio Conte bids fond farewell to Italy after Euro 2016 quarterfinal loss

The After Dark panel breakdown Germany's penalty shootout win over Italy in the quarterfinals of the European championship. 

 

Antonio Conte has bid an emotional farewell to the Italy national team as he departs for West London to take up the vacant manager's role at Chelsea.

Conte's Azzurri were dumped out of Euro 2016 after losing 6-5 on penalties to Germany in their quarterfinal on Saturday, with the match ending 1-1 draw following extra time.

Speaking at a postmatch news conference, Conte said: "Today feels much harder than yesterday. Now that it is over," Conte told a news conference on Sunday.

"I still feel emotionally attached -- it was a great honour for me to coach these lads. It is a shame for them to go out because they gave everything they had."

Conte said he hoped he had left incoming manager Giampiero Ventura a blueprint for which to take his successes with the team forward, after progressing further in the tournament than many had previously anticipated.

"I wish all the best to Ventura and I hope I have left a good outline for him to continue," he said.

"I wish the national team and Ventura well. I feel we have left a strong path that can take our colours higher and higher.

"The most important thing from these Euros was ensuring Italy were respected by everyone, including the European [Spain] and world [Germany] champions.

Conte went on to thank the president of the Italian Football Federation, Carlo Tavecchio "for allowing me this extraordinary experience that will stay with me forever."

Despite an assertion that he often felt unsupported by the media and Serie A during his tenure as Italy boss, Conte also thanked the media.

"I know I am not an easy person to deal with," he added. "But we got to know each other over these two years and reached great mutual respect.

"I hope this is just goodbye and not a final farewell. Thank you from the heart."

Antonio Conte's Italy left Euro 2016 after being beaten 6-5 on penalties by Germany.

Meanwhile Tavecchio added: "This is a sad day for Italy. We restored honour to the Azzurri shirt and found a real leader in Antonio Conte.

"Conte made his own precise plan. It's difficult to hold back a leader such as him and we hope he will return.

"We made a huge effort, competing with big clubs, to get Conte on our bench. We knew it would be tough and probably wouldn't last very long, but we had to rebuild and that is what we achieved.

"When we arrived after the 2014 World Cup, the situation was a total disaster and there was no federation. The national team was totally lost, without a commanding figure or a structure. Now, we are not inferior to anybody.

"We will go again from this point. A route has been drawn out and we can't stop. Italy will have their own staff who are all developed at home."

CREDIT TO:http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italy/story/2906864/antonio-conte-bids-fond-farewell-to-italy-after-euro-2016-quarterfinal-loss