Calafiori: Italy Showed Glimmers of Potential Despite Belgium Loss
Riccardo Calafiori believes Italy must focus on the positives following their 2-0 Nations League loss to Belgium, noting that he witnessed a good team in scattered moments.
The team’s start in the new Roberto Mancini era did not go as planned. Belgium secured the win at the Stadio Olimpico with goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio, both capitalizing on defensive errors to create clear-cut chances.
Italy’s best moments included a key save from Senne Lammers and a point-blank header from Giorgio Scalvini that struck the crossbar.
“I saw a good team in fits and starts. We’ve just started working with a new coach, but other areas I didn’t like, we left gaps and conceded two avoidable goals. We must try to look on the positive aspects,” Calafiori told RAI Sport. “There is a lot of work to do, we’ve just started with a new coach, so we’ll see.”
Some tension was evident after the final whistle, leading to yellow cards for Gianluigi Donnarumma and Romelu Lukaku. Calafiori commented, “I didn’t really see, but these things happen on the field, we’ve got to move on.”
Fans at the Stadio Olimpico, in a crowd that was not sold out, booed the team off the pitch. Calafiori acknowledged the fans' disappointment, stating, “They hurt, because at times I felt the passion of the crowd. We’ve got to do better, we all know that, starting from the next match.”
This match marked Calafiori’s first appearance at left-back for the senior Italy squad, a position he regularly plays for Arsenal.
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