Italy ‘absolutely’ need Chiesa and Calafiori, says World Cup winner | OneFootball

Italy World Cup winner Ciccio Graziani insists the Azzurri will need Federico Chiesa and Riccardo Calafiori to succeed in the play-off and hopes Francesco Pio Esposito will become a striker similar to Harry Kane.

Italy are waiting for today’s draw to learn their World Cup play-off opponents.

The Azzurri already failed to qualify in 2018 and 2022, and they will meet in the semifinals one of these four teams: Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland or Romania.

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MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Matteo Politano of Italy is challenged by Antonio Nusa of Norway during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The semifinal will be played in Italy, while the venue of the potential final will also be determined in today’s draw.

“We will qualify for the World Cup, but in this team, there are no champions,” 1982 Italy World Cup winner Francesco Graziani told Tuttosport.

“Even though it’s made of excellent players, we are missing world-class talents such as Del Piero or Totti.”

The play-off will be played in March, and Graziani feels the Azzurri should approach the game with great humility and, even, fear.

Graziani on Italy’s approach in World Cup play-off

FLORENCE, ITALY – JUNE 07: Andrea Cambiaso and Riccardo Calafiori of Italy in action during an Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on June 07, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

“You need to have fear because it leads to a better approach, it puts you in a position to give your best, and it helps with concentration,” he said.

“The danger would be if we thought these matches were easy to win.”

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Questioned about the players Italy will need to finally return to the World Cup, Graziani replied: “Chiesa absolutely needs to be recovered. In defence, I hope Calafior gets back; we need him. Pio Esposito could become a Harry Kane-type player. Decisive with physical strength, quality and technique. He could become a top-level striker.”

Chiesa has not played for the Italy national team for over a year and still doesn’t feel ready to play for the Azzurri again, as Gennaro Gattuso said earlier this month.

Calafiori trained separately during the international break and was not deployed against Moldova and Norway.