By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 14:03 EDT, 24 March 2026 | Updated: 14:04 EDT, 24 March 2026
ROME (AP) - Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori says Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso called him more often than his mother did over the last four months.
Which shows just how much attention Gattuso paid to his players between the Azzurri´s last game in November and Thursday´s World Cup playoff with Northern Ireland.
With the four-time champion attempting to avoid missing out on a third straight World Cup, Gattuso traveled up and down Italy and made several trips abroad to share dinners with his players and keep up team spirit.
"Over the last few months I heard from him more than my mother," Calafiori said Tuesday at Italy´s Coverciano training complex in Florence.
"When I was out or not playing as much, he called me constantly," Calafiori said of the month from late December to late January when he was out with a muscle injury. "And the dinner with him was great. It gave us the chance to be together. It was like a dinner among friends."
Besides Gattuso, Italy delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon and assistant coach Leonardo Bonucci - all former standout players for Italy - were also at the meal in London.
Italy's Riccardo Calafiori during their training session in Florence, Italy, Monday, March 23, 2026. (LaPresse via AP)
"There were a lot of soccer anecdotes shared, because the three of them have plenty of those," Calafiori said.
Able to switch seamlessly between left and center back, the 23-year-old Calafiori helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League before transferring to Arsenal in 2024.
Now he´s switching his attention to limiting Northern Ireland´s dead ball opportunities, after recovering from a slight knock with Arsenal on Sunday.
"We need to be aware, because they´re dangerous. Free kicks can create the difference. The margins between squads are reduced in modern football," Calafiori said. "We also need to pay attention to loose balls."
Having become a regular with Italy, Calafiori is still regaining his fitness from his month off after beginning the season as a consistent member of Arsenal´s starting 11.
He's not a guaranteed starter at Arsenal these days, though, with Piero Hincapie doing well in Calafiori´s absence and keeping his place now that the Italian is back.
While Arsenal was beaten by Manchester City in the English League Cup final on Sunday, Calafiori is still in line to win the Premier League with Arsenal leading City by nine points.
But Calafiori has other goals, too.
"Going to the World Cup is the dream I had as a kid, so I can´t wait to play this game," he said.
Besides beating Northern Ireland at home in Bergamo on Thursday, Italy would also then need to defeat either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away next week to qualify for the upcoming tournament in North America.
The Azzurri were eliminated in the playoffs for the last two World Cups by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively.
"We need to prepare like it´s a normal game," Calafiori said. "We know how delicate it is."
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Everton's Tim Iroegbunam, left, and Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori jump for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, England, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, England, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori, left, and Piero Hincapie celebrate after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, England, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)