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UDINE, Italy -- Antonio Conte says he has no regrets about his decision to step down as Italy coach and believes that he has handled his impending exit well. The 46-year-old, who has been heavily linked with the Chelsea job, will leave his current position after Euro 2016 and said last week that he hopes for a return to the day-to-day involvement of club management. But Conte, whose side face Spain in a friendly on Thursday, says it has had no effect on him or his players. "In retrospect I think I behaved in the right way," Conte told a news conference at Udine's Stadio Friuli on Wednesday. "I think I spoke correctly and transparently. For me, [being national team coach] it is a fantastic experience and there is not a day when I regretted the choice I made. I wish everyone could have this experience. Training your country's national team gives you boundless pride from this point of view. "Absolutely nothing has changed for the squad. For me and the boys Euro 2016 is a unique opportunity, and I feel a great responsibility. In June we will all feel that Italy is blowing behind us to push forwards, and this should give us tremendous force to bridge the gap with some of the teams that are now ahead of us." Conte hopes that the meeting with Spain, a re-run of the Euro 2012 final in which Italy ran out 4-0 losers, will give members of his squad who have had little game time at international level a chance to shine. Italy have a number of injuries -- Marco Verratti, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli among them -- and expect their replacements to step up to the plate. "It is not easy to prepare for a game with people you have not seen for a long time, but I found [a squad of] extraordinary boys -- like sponges," Conte said. "We know we will face a very strong national team, one of the favourites. They are a great opponent. We want to be able to find different solutions without changing out principles, which are to keep a high tempo and attack our opposition." Conte, who was tight-lipped about the futures of veteran midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Daniele de Rossi -- neither of whom were called up for his squad -- also expressed hope that the "joy" of football can override concerns about terrorism this summer in the light of Tuesday's tragic events in Brussels. "The European Championship is a celebration and I hope this does not create a problem for something that is always lived with joy, enthusiasm and passion. I hope there is great security and that we do not get used to these terrible events. "What happened cannot go unnoticed. It strikes us deeply and scares us. But there is a sporting event and we have to concentrate on trying to react in the best way. I think that is the right way to respond to those who want to instil fear."
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