Calafiori: Italy's World Cup Dream - A Defender's Perspective
Riccardo Calafiori, the Arsenal defender, is ready to lead Italy's charge towards the World Cup. With a positive mindset and belief in the team's abilities, he sees no limits to what they can achieve. Join us as we delve into Calafiori's journey and aspirations for the national team.
The Arsenal defender can't wait to return to the national team.Riccardo Calafiori sounds the charge for Italy.Ahead of next Thursday’s semi-final against Northern Ireland in Bergamo, the Arsenal defender said in an interview with SportWeek, the weekly magazine on sale on Saturday with La Gazzetta dello Sport: “How do I feel about the play-offs? Positive. We’re fired up and have a huge desire to go to the World Cup. I can’t wait to get to Coverciano to spend plenty of time with my teammates. Our history shows us that, if we can pull together as a team, we can take on anyone. Even in America: if we get there, anything could happen.”"Fear? If we play to our full potential, we’ll make it to the World Cup. On paper, we’re the better side; we just need to believe in ourselves. There’s a bit of negativity around at the moment, but I’m certain the national team and the fans will pull together. The goal is still within our reach; we must stick together."So far, Calafiori has made 12 appearances for the senior national team: nine under Spalletti (who gave him his debut in June 2024) and three under Gattuso."The most emotional moment of my career was Italy v Croatia at the Euros; I wanted to make amends for the own goal against Spain and I managed to do so thanks to the assist for Zaccagni, which saw us through to the round of 16."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
The Call to Arms
In a recent interview with SportWeek, Calafiori expressed his excitement and determination ahead of Italy's crucial semi-final match against Northern Ireland. He exudes confidence in the team's potential and is eager to reunite with his teammates at Coverciano.
Belief in the Team
Calafiori firmly believes that Italy is the stronger side and is capable of competing with the best on the world stage. Despite facing some negativity, he remains optimistic about their chances and stresses the importance of unity and self-belief.
Memorable Moments
Reflecting on his international career so far, Calafiori highlights the Italy vs. Croatia match at the Euros as a particularly emotional moment. He was able to redeem himself for an own goal with a crucial assist that helped the team progress to the round of 16.
