Conte is world´s best coach – Costacurta

Italy’s form at Euro 2016 has shown that Antonio Conte is the best coach in world football, according to former Azzurri team-mate Alessandro Costacurta.

Conte masterminded a 2-0 win over deposed European champions Spain in the last 16 and his team faces Germany in a mouth-watering quarter-final on Saturday.

And AC Milan icon Costacurta says that soon-to-be Chelsea boss Conte – who won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus – is the top coach operating today due to his development of the national side.

“The most important thing is the coach,” Costacurta told BBC Sport. “And for me, the coach is the best in the world and this is showing at Euro 2016.

“The team was not a unit, it was not so organised. But after two or three training sessions, I think the team improved.

“It’s always about Conte, because I think the players are not so good, they are not world-class players. So, for me, Conte is the best in the world.”

Costacurta hailed Conte’s tactical plan as being particularly effective as he has been able to mould a dangerous counter-attacking side on top of a rock-solid defence, which has conceded only once at the finals.

“Italian coaches are always talking about tactics – I think it is our quality,” Costacurta added.

“We know the defensive way, but Conte has given us something new in attack.

“Against Belgium and against Spain, we had a lot of good, fast transitions and players always get in the box.

“So this is something new for Italian people and for Italian football.”