The Euro is often an opportunity to discover new players and in Italy, one player is already grabbing the headlines. Among the many new faces of the national team that Luciano Spalletti integrated at the start of this Euro 2024, Riccardo Calafiori clearly stands out from the other newcomers. The Bologna defender took command of the Italian defense alongside Alessandro Bastoni and did not only make up the numbers against Albania (2-1). Despite his young age, he played like a veteran and stood out for the characteristics that also established him in Serie A as one of the best performers in this position in the Italian championship: “He showed us that we can trust him, he has the quality of an international footballer. When you have the ball, he’s a defender. When he has it, you have to chase goals”, explained the Italian coach. One thing is certain: Riccardo Calafiori shone on international television and Europe got to know this Italian nugget.
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Bold, technically clean and enterprising, Calafiori was useful in the transition with precise restarts and also solid in closing the Italian rearguard. Serene in his decisions, clean in his transitions and efficient in his interventions, he delivered a complete defensive copy without a false note: “I never understood that two left-footed central defenders are a problem, you often see two right-footed defenders and no one complains. He is very talented and I am convinced that the chemistry is on the right track”, Bastoni said after the meeting about his defense accomplice. Lovely comments poured in from almost everywhere. On social networks, in foreign media, everyone praised this player who is perhaps less known than the others for football fans who do not follow Calcio. Some have even dared to make a comparison with Paolo Maldini.
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In the footsteps of Maldini…
Starting against Albania, during the victory of the Nazionale for his entry into the running, Riccardo Calafiori produced a copy bordering on perfection with six duels won out of the nine played. He also had three interceptions and won six possessions. In these specific areas, no Italian player did better last night. The Bologna defender also touched nearly 117 balls, only three of his teammates did better. A rock as essential in attack as in defense: “It wasn’t easy to start with this goal behind. I try to play like I play at the club, the responsibilities are obviously different but I try not to think about it., first explained the native of Rome. The man who was only celebrating his third cap with his country also posted 100% completed dribbles, 93% successful passes and 100% aerial duels won. The writing of Foot Mercato gave him a score of 6 for his great performance filled with maturity.
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If Europe was impressed by Riccardo Calafiori’s performance on Saturday evening, he is far from being unknown to diligent followers of Italian football. Trained at AS Roma, he was quickly exported to Switzerland to FC Basel before being recruited by Bologna. Under the leadership of Thiago Motta, Calafiori has established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A this season at just 22 years old. It’s no coincidence that the Italian coach continues to push Juventus to bring Calafiori to the Bianconeri, as we exclusively revealed to you: “There are a lot of emotions. The secret is not to think about the rest and only feel the positive sensations, my family was in the stands and my friends in front of the TV. I think I did well”, concluded the young Italian rock. Figures in hand, at 22 years and 27 days, Riccardo Calafiori is the second youngest Italian defender to play a match in the history of the European Championships. The first in this ranking? Paolo Maldini, who played against Germany at 19 years and 350 days old. And that’s just the beginning.
Pub. THE 06/16/2024 2:15 p.m.
