This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Riccardo Calafiori addressed, in a press conference, the decisive match for Italy against Northern Ireland, related to the semi-final of the qualifying play-off for the 2026 World Cup, noting that, in the event of victory, they will face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina for a spot in the final stage. For Calafiori, this obstacle course can be seen as a stimulus. "We know the importance of qualifying for this World Cup and I am almost happy to play this game. We will try to live it to the fullest because it could be a very happy week, in which we would go to the United States," said the defender. The Arsenal player views the pressure in Italy, which has not qualified for a World Cup since 2014, as motivation. "When you wear this jersey, there are millions of people supporting you. I see this as an opportunity to go to the World Cup, something we have dreamed of since we were kids. I am very eager to play," he added. The secret of the former Bologna player to face such a decisive game is simple: "The key is to live in the present, not to overthink, and to enjoy the moment, working as a team and taking things day by day. I expect a game where we dominate and have the best opportunities." Unity and mentality have been intensely worked on by coach Rino Gattuso in recent months. The coach has frequently visited the players at their clubs, even sharing dinners with them, a closeness that Calafiori praised. "I really appreciated how the coach dealt with us and with me. In recent months, I've had more contact with Gattuso than with my mother. I am shy, and he has been there for me at a time when it has done me a lot of good because I have been playing less. It was nice to be there having dinner and talking. We haven't had much time to train in recent months, but the important thing is that we are together."
Riccardo Calafiori Northern Ireland remains central to this story.
Riccardo Calafiori Northern Ireland remains central to this story.
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