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The last time Italy played in a World Cup, Riccardo Calafiori was just eleven years old. Today, at 23 years of age, he can help the Azzurri make it to North America and guarantee the many young fans the chance to watch Italy in the finals of the tournament for the first time. “Going to the World Cup is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid,” he said in a press conference at Coverciano today. “I can’t wait to play in this game. The pressure is on, and it’s useless to try to avoid it. We know how important it is to qualify. We all want the same thing. We’ll try to shed the worry and think positively.”
THE DANGERS COME FROM ON HIGH. Top of the league with Arsenal, the talented youngster has cemented himself in the Premier League in just a couple of years. He is also now an important figure in this Italy team, who can afford no false steps in Bergamo on Thursday (20:45 CET kick-off). “We need to be as carefree as possible,” Calafiori continued. “We need to be switched on from the first to the final minute. In games as important as this one, tactics and technique only count for so much; unity and mentality matter more.” Long balls and set pieces are Northern Ireland’s chief threat, and Calafiori said that “we need to concentrate on set pieces, because they can be dangerous, but so can we. Dead-ball situations can make the difference in today’s football.”
SUPPORT IN BERGAMO. He said that the ‘pain’ he felt on Sunday, which Gattuso discussed yesterday, doesn’t worry him so much. “I think I’m okay, we’ll see in training today,” he said. In Bergamo, he wants to see the same atmosphere as in September, when, thanks to the fans’ support, Italy smashed five past Estonia in the second half. “If there’s a game that I want to replicate since the gaffer arrived, it’d be that one. The supporters can really help us. On Thursday, it’ll be better than it was six months ago.”
CONNECTIONS WITH THE COACH. The Azzurri have come together at Coverciano four months on from their final group game, against Norway, but with phone calls and dinners, Gattuso has provided a constant presence for the players. Calafiori confirmed as much, saying, “I really appreciate the way the gaffer has treated us, especially me. In recent months, I’ve heard from him more than from my own mother. He always kept in touch when I was out. Then, we had dinner together in London; it was great to be together and talk.”
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma, (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli);
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta).