Arsenal star’s injury casts cloud over World Cup qualifier | OneFootball

Calafiori’s hip issue persists as Italy weigh late decision before meeting group leaders Norway at San Siro in their final World Cup qualifier.

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Italy’s preparations for their decisive World Cup qualifier at San Siro have been dominated by the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori, who remains the national team’s only genuine doubt going into the meeting with Norway.

The defender has been managed carefully throughout the week at Milanello, kept away from full sessions as Italy’s staff try to avoid any further damage, but a hip problem that first surfaced before the Moldova game has still not cleared.

Calafiori has now gone five consecutive days without training fully, and although he will be assessed again today, the signs are not said to be encouraging.

Italy have prepared contingency plans, with Gianluca Mancini, who scored in Chisinau, and Alessandro Buongiorno both on standby should Gennaro Gattuso be forced into a change.

His absence against Moldova looks increasingly likely to be repeated against Norway.

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The timing is frustrating for Italy and for Arsenal, given Calafiori’s long list of setbacks during his first year in England.

He missed 24 of Arsenal’s 58 matchday squads in 2024/25, more than 40 per cent of the season. Since arriving in north London he has suffered four knee problems, a muscle injury and a calf issue, ruling him out of 31 matches for club and country in the last two seasons.

This campaign had been a welcome improvement. Calafiori has featured in all 17 of Arsenal’s matchday squads so far, starting 12 times and already moving close to the 16 club starts he managed across the whole of last season.

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Italy beat Moldova without him, but it will almost certainly not be enough. Norway’s 4-1 win over Estonia, with Karl Hein the only Arsenal player on the pitch across the three fixtures involving Italy, Norway and Estonia, effectively sealed the group.

With a goal difference advantage of +17, Martin Ødegaard and Norway would need to lose by nine goals for Italy to leapfrog them on Sunday.

Norway won the reverse fixture 3-0.

Unless something extraordinary happens, Ødegaard will captain Norway at the World Cup next summer.

Calafiori and Italy, meanwhile, are heading for a play-off in March.