Calafiori insists tactics weren’t behind Italy’s World Cup failure: ‘Don’t think that’s the case’
Riccardio Calafiori has admitted that he feels more comfortable playing in a back four rather than in a back three, but believes that his preferences and Gennaro Gattuso’s tactical selections were not the reason behind Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Calafiori on Arsenal goals and Italy ‘disappointment’
Calafiori lined up alongside Gianluca Mancini and Alessandro Bastoni in a three-man defence for Italy’s World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina last Tuesday, and briefly spoke about the national team in an interview with Sky Sport Italia following Arsenal’s recent Champions League victory over Sporting CP.
The former Roma and Bologna defender admits that the disappointment of Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third tournament in a row will remain for ‘quite a while’ but says that he has to focus on his football at club level, with Arsenal still fighting for the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I think the disappointment will remain for quite a while, but that’s how it is in football, I prefer to play as a starter because there’s nothing else to think about when you’re on the pitch. You try to give your best, there are big goals to play for,” Calafiori told Sky.
“I think the disappointment remains inside, but I hope to achieve something big with Arsenal at the end of the season.”
Alessandro Costacurta was on punditry duty in the Sky studios. He pointed out that all of the teams competing in the Champions League quarter-finals lined up in a back four, while in Italy and with the national team, a back three remains one of the more popular systems.
Calafiori told Costacurta that he does prefer playing in a back four, but that this was not the reason behind Italy’s World Cup play-off final defeat.
“I’ve never thought about it, I don’t know what to say about it. I feel better in a four-man defence, both as a central defender and as a full-back. But if you think that’s the reason why the game (against Bosnia) went badly, I don’t think that’s the case.”
Costacurta clarified that his question was meant generally, and not specifically in relation to the Italy national team: “I didn’t want to put you in a difficlt spot,” he insisted.