Arsenal man called out after his country misses World Cup

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Just Arsenal News

·1 April 2026

Arsenal man called out after his country misses World Cup

Riccardo Calafiori has become a focus for the Italian media after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

For the third consecutive edition, Italy were required to progress through the playoffs, meeting Bosnia in the final last night. The match began promisingly as the Italians took the lead, but they were eventually reduced to ten men following a red card.

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Playoff Heartbreak

Italy conceded an equaliser before ultimately losing the game on penalties, meaning they will miss this summer’s World Cup, twenty years after their triumph in the competition. This marks a generation of fans who have not witnessed Italy play at a World Cup, and the media have been quick to scrutinise the players’ performances.

Following the match, Corriere dello Sport wrote:

“[Gianluigi] Donnarumma kept us in the game on at least three occasions, so I wonder how players like [Federico] Dimarco and Calafiori could be outplayed in such an important match.

“Qualification had become a matter of national dignity. Not being part of a tournament open to 48 nations is downright humiliating. Those who created the project, those who wanted and supported it, cannot tolerate this third failure. At home. Like us.”

Calafiori’s Performance

Calafiori is widely regarded as one of the finest Italian talents, and his poor showing came at the most inopportune moment. Despite his abilities, the high-stakes nature of the match, coupled with the team’s numerical disadvantage, contributed to the disappointment. The Italian media have highlighted the impact of such crucial errors, but the performance does not define the player’s overall quality or potential.

While this defeat is a setback for both Calafiori and Italy, it remains an isolated incident in a promising career. The defender will look to move past this disappointment and continue to demonstrate his talent at club and international level in the coming seasons.

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