Italy coach Luciano Spalletti is full of praise for AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli.

Pioli is fighting for his job at Milan ahead of the end of the season.

Spalletti told Il Corriere della Sera: "Pioli is an excellent coach and above all a man with great human qualities, he has depth.

"He has done well for Milan in these three years. In the dynamics I won't go inside."

On the Italy shirt, he also said: "It is the most beautiful and most important in the world, the first skin for a footballer. It must be worn with pride and conviction. With dignity and humanity.

"In our national team everyone must be on the same level, that no one feels powerful. We all start from past defeats, they are the ones that shape us. Victory is beautiful, it makes you cool but if it remains an end in itself it becomes a vice."