Dominant Calafiori display at Euro 2024 justifies Liverpool and Tottenham links

 

There was a sense of nostalgia when Riccardo Calafiori took to the field in Italy's 2-1 win over Albania on Friday night. The centre-back with long hair and a hairband... it was reminiscent of greats Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro. Calafiori proceeded to put in a performance befitting of the legendary Italian duo. 

 

Friday's Group B triumph saw Calafiori become the youngest Italian defender to play in a European Championship match, behind only the great Paolo Maldini. At just 22 years of age, he's in esteemed company already. What's all the more commendable was that there was a possibility Calafiori may not have made the Italy squad for Euro 2024. 

 

Despite being two years his junior, Giorgio Scalvini has made more appearances than Calafiori for the Italian national team. A serious knee injury on the final day of the Serie A campaign against Fiorentina ended the Atalanta man's hopes of making the squad in Germany. What's Italian for 'sliding doors moment'? 

 

 

Either way, international recognition was richly deserved for Calafiori. The young centre-back was instrumental in Bologna's top-four finish and it's for good reason that the list of admirers continues to grow with each performance. Ex-Bologna boss, now of Juventus, is keen to take the defender to Turin, though Euro 2024 will do little but increase competition for his services. Indeed, Liverpool and Tottenham are also monitoring the breakout Azzurri star.

 

Bologna boasted the third best defensive record in Serie A last season, conceding just 32 goals on their way to a Champions League spot, with Calafiori vital to their defensive resolve. Despite his relative inexperience at senior level, one of Calafiori's best strengths happens to be is reading of the game. A total of 50 interceptions ranked sixth in Italy's top tier last term, this despite starting just 26 of 38 league matches. 

 

He once again showcased this quality to his game at the Westfalenstadion on the first full day of Euro 2024 as he made three interceptions to keep the Albania attack at bay; only the promising Mario Mitaj of Lokomotiv Moscow fame (5) made more. This allowed Italy to quickly get on the frontfoot when they did repel Albania, again something Calafiori did well, finding a teammate with 93.4% of his 106 passes. 

 

Conversely, though, Calafiori's performance wasn't perfect, even if it was a competitive debut to be proud of. This was best evidenced in a second half tussle with Armando Broja that resulted in a dangerous Albania free-kick, for which the defender was booked for his troubles. Fortunately for both player and nation, Kristjan Asllani's effort was denied by centre-back partner Alessandro Bastoni, though the Inter man did need treatment having blocked the shot with his head. 

 

 

Next up for Calafiori and Italy, however, is a testing meeting with fellow Group B heavyweights Spain on Thursday night. Both sides won their opening match, La Roja easing to a 3-0 victory over Croatia, and Luis de la Fuente's side will be far trickier opposition than Albania. Crucially, too, is that Calafiori will potentially come up against the vastly experienced Alvaro Morata, providing he overcomes a knock in time. 

 

The Spain captain is a more testing forward to face than Broja, and his hard work off the ball means Calafiori would be in for a demanding 90 minutes against one of Europe's powerhouse sides. That being said, Calafiori has shone in a breakout campaign for club, and now country. He's passed nigh-on every test with flying colours and that bodes well for a potential Group B showdown. 

 

Italy have developed great centre-backs in the past, and continue to do so, with Bastoni and Alessandro Buongiorno both additional options for Luciano Spalletti in the Azzurri squad. As Spalletti's side look to follow up their Euro 2020 success with another European Championship, the emergence of Calafiori could ultimately determine whether or not Italy go all the way again this summer.

Dominant Calafiori display at Euro 2024 justifies Liverpool and Tottenham links