Calafiori Set for Rare Italy Left-Back Role

Dimarco's knee injury forces Italy to test Calafiori in an unfamiliar left-back spot for only the second time.

R. Calafiori

player

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Age

Position

Left-back

Club

Arsenal

Nationality

Italy

Key stat

5 goals, 7 assists in 71 Arsenal games

What happened. Federico Dimarco withdrew from the Italy squad with a knee injury, prompting new coach Roberto Mancini to test Riccardo Calafiori at left-back in training. Calafiori has played almost exclusively in a back three for Italy, with his only previous left-back appearance coming in his debut in June 2024.

Mancini is implementing a 4-3-3, a shift from the previous back-three system.
Matteo Ruggeri was called up to replace the injured Dimarco.
Calafiori has been praised as the best left-back in the Premier League this season.

Italy face Belgium, Turkiye and France in the Nations League, where Calafiori could start at left-back.

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R. Calafiori