Italy secured passage by way of to the knockout levels of the European Championship in dramatic trend.
Trailing Croatia 1-0 till the depths of additional time within the second-half, Riccardo Calafiori stepped up from midfield to produce the help for Mattia Zaccagni’s late winner.
Heartbreak for Luka Modric and Co. however yet one more alternative for the highlight to shine on the Liverpool-linked Bologna defender.
In response to stats collected on X (previously Twitter) by Fabrizio Romano, the 22-year-old shone for his nationwide facet.
Riccardo Calafiori was shining once more for Italy towards Croatia 🇮🇹
◎ received 100% of his aerial duels.◎ accomplished 93% of his passes.◎ was not dribbled previous as soon as in the whole recreation.◎ created extra probabilities (4) than another participant.◎ supplied the help for Zaccagni’s winner. pic.twitter.com/DQt4qMQQSb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 25, 2024
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The centre-half registered seven purpose contributions in 30 Serie A video games as Bologna secured Champions League soccer for 2024/25.
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Might Liverpool signal Riccardo Calafiori this summer time?
Judging by Sacha Tavolieri’s newest replace, that could be relatively troublesome.
The Italian defender appears to be like more and more set to commerce life within the Emilia-Romagna area for the comparatively richer pastures of Turin.
However is it a deal signed, sealed and delivered? Not fairly but.
If there may be any room left for Richard Hughes to wiggle into along with his fluent Italian – now could be the second to wiggle, in our view!
Calafiori, maybe to a lesser extent than Leny Yoro, appears to be like a expertise doubtlessly able to defining a technology of soccer.
If there’s any probability he can do this at Anfield, Liverpool must be greedy the chance with each fingers.
Liverpool want out there defenders
Return to the the 2016/17 marketing campaign (a 12 months after Leicester received the title conceding solely 36 targets) and you’ll see the significance of Liverpool rediscovering solidity on the again.
Since that season, each title-winner has managed to maintain their targets conceded tally beneath 35.
Liverpool’s title win in 2019/20? It got here with solely 33 targets conceded. Manchester Metropolis’s in 2023/24? It got here with solely 34 targets conceded.
Don’t get us mistaken, we may most likely do with bolstering the ahead line, however we received’t be profitable any title if we’re conceding 12 extra targets than Arsenal or seven greater than Metropolis.
Calafiori might be a possible answer for that. We simply want a again 4 – and a centre-back partnership – that’s not consistently chopping and altering.
Judging by the previous FC Basel man’s availability in 2023/24, he appears to be like like he may fulfill a necessity there.
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