Calafiori 'Can't Wait' for Italy's World Cup Play-off: 'Anything Can Happen'

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori is buzzing with anticipation for Italy's crucial World Cup play-off, eagerly awaiting his arrival at Coverciano to join the national squad. He firmly believes that if the Azzurri secure their spot in the tournament, "anything can happen" once they reach America.

Rapid Ascent with the National Team

In an interview, the 23-year-old discussed the upcoming challenge. Despite having made his senior national team debut less than two years ago under Luciano Spalletti, Calafiori quickly established himself, earning 12 caps and becoming a standout performer at Euro 2024. His rapid inclusion in the 28-man squad underscores his impressive rise.

Reflecting on his unexpected journey to Euro 2024, Calafiori shared his surprise at not only being called up but becoming a starter. "There was a lot of competition for that position. I hoped for a call-up, but I didn’t know what would happen," he recalled. He described the "fantastic feeling" of playing for his country, with friends and the nation watching.

Euro 2024: Mixed Emotions and Redemption

While acknowledging the disappointment of an own goal against Spain, which resulted in a 1-0 loss during the group phase, Calafiori found swift redemption. "The own goal bothered me a little, but when I returned to the pitch against Croatia, I was very serene," he stated. He provided a crucial assist for Mattia Zaccagni's late equalizer in the final group stage match against Croatia, securing Italy's qualification for the Round of 16 – an emotion he considers the strongest of his career.

Optimism for the World Cup Play-offs

As Italy gears up for the World Cup play-offs starting this Monday, Calafiori radiates positivity. "We are pumped up, and we have a great desire to go to the World Cup," he affirmed. He emphasized the importance of team cohesion, echoing Italy's history of achieving great things when united. "I can’t wait to get to Coverciano to spend time with my teammates... If we go to America, anything can happen."

Calafiori believes in the team's inherent superiority and insists they "must only believe in our means" to qualify. He acknowledged a prevalent "negativity around" but expressed certainty that fans would ultimately rally behind them, stressing that the World Cup target is "within reach" if they remain united.

Italy is set to face Northern Ireland in the semifinal on March 26. Should they advance, their final opponent will be either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A Special London Reunion: Calafiori and Bove

In a personal note, Calafiori also spoke about reuniting with his former Roma youth teammate, Edoardo Bove, in London, following Bove's move to Watford in January. Coincidentally, they now live in the same building, with their respective club training centers (Arsenal and Watford) located side-by-side. Calafiori described this as "destiny," sharing a touching moment where he hugged Bove and felt his subcutaneous defibrillator, noting Bove's calm demeanor and eagerness to embrace new challenges.