Riccardo Calafiori is backing Gennaro Gattuso to lead Italy to World Cup qualification, joking he has spent more time with the Azzurri boss than with his own mother in recent months.

Italy finished second in their World Cup qualification group as Norway won all eight of their games, leaving them in huge danger of missing a third straight edition of the tournament.

The Azzurri – who last played at the World Cup in 2014 and last featured in a knockout game at the tournament when they won the 2006 final – will take on Northern Ireland on Thursday, with the victors facing Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place at the tournament.

Calafiori should be available for Thursday’s semi-final after complaining of discomfort during Arsenal’s 2-0 EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, and the defender wants Italy to play without pressure.

“I feel well, let’s see on the field today, but I’m fine. In such a delicate moment, the key is to always live in the present, enjoy every single moment and focus on one game at a time,” Calafiori told reporters.

“Honestly, as I’ve always said, I prefer to just focus on ourselves; it’s not the moment to focus on the opponents; it depends more on us.

“The game must be prepared as a normal game. We know how important it is, but we must not feel weighed down.”

ITALIA @adidasfootball#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/SdVUmgzqxq

— Italy (@Azzurri_En) March 21, 2026

Calafiori then revealed he had met with Gattuso – in addition to Italy’s technical director Leonardo Bonucci and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon – as the trio visited players at their club teams.

“I really appreciated the coach’s attitude,” Calafiori said. “I’ve spoken more with him than with my mother in recent months!

“I’m pretty shy, but he was good at staying close to me because there was a moment when I was out [injured]. We spent time together and it was nice to do so.

“We all want the same thing. Why should we make life difficult for ourselves? I like to think positively. In the end, when one has a positive mindset, you achieve what you want.

“Pressure is there; we can’t avoid it. We know how important this game is. We try not to think about it, the game is just two days away.

“I’m happy to play this game and this is the message I want to send.

“The other side of the coin is that it might go badly, but we want to think positively, because this week can bring happiness and send us to the World Cup in America. That’s the only thing I think about.”