Italian national team defender Riccardo Calafiori spoke to Rai following Italy’s Nations League match against Israel, highlighting the team’s transformation and areas for improvement.
Calafiori emphasized the dramatic change in the team’s performance since their disappointing Euro 2024 campaign: “We are completely a different team now, you can see it in how we dominate. We must continue like this. We’ve put the setback from the Euros behind us and used it to our advantage.”
When asked about his role wearing the number 10 jersey, Calafiori discussed the evolving nature of defensive play in modern football: “In today’s game, even defenders must contribute to the build-up play, not giving reference points. That’s what I try to do without forgetting that I’m primarily a defender. I enjoy trying to provide an extra solution for the team, but I need to improve in this aspect as well. My goal is to perform both defensive and offensive duties at a high level.”
Addressing areas for improvement in Italy’s defense, Calafiori pointed out a specific weakness: “We need to improve on set-pieces. It’s evident because we only concede goals from these situations. I’m not sure if we’re inattentive or disorganized, but it’s the only flaw we have in these recent matches, and we need to work on resolving it.”
Calafiori also reflected on how his experience playing abroad has influenced his game: “The Premier League is a different championship, especially in terms of intensity. Every match is fierce, even against smaller teams. If you don’t go two goals up, you risk a comeback. Intensity is the key word, and I try to bring that here to the national team to help the squad.”
