Italy needed 'special type of character', says Spalletti

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said his side showed fear and a lack of character in Sunday's 3-3 draw against Germany which meant they bowed out of the Nations League 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

Germany were 3-0 up at half-time and cruising towards the semi-finals, having won 2-1 in Milan on Thursday, but Italy scored three second-half goals to level the game on the night.

"That second goal, that was the killer for us," Spalletti said of Jamal Musiala's 36th-minute strike.

Joshua Kimmich caught the Italians napping with a quick corner, allowing Musiala to tap in from close range with the visitors out of position.

"To concede like that from a corner -- that's just completely not OK," said Spalletti

"I always stand behind my players, but at times it's difficult.

"At a professional level, you have to show a special type of character. That was the character we showed, but not until the second half."

The 66-year-old praised his side's second-half performance but said Italy were "too afraid" to play like that for the entire match.

Germany will face Portugal in the semi-finals in June, with the remainder of the tournament to be held on German soil.