Riccardo Calafiori has opened up about Italy's painful failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but the Arsenal defender is adamant that tactical setups were not to blame. Speaking after a Champions League clash with Sporting CP, Calafiori addressed the lingering disappointment from Italy's play-off final defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a match where he featured in a three-man defense alongside Gianluca Mancini and Alessandro Bastoni.

While admitting a personal preference for a back four, whether as a center-back or full-back, Calafiori was quick to dismiss the idea that this tactical point contributed to the national team's downfall. "I feel better in a four-man defence," he told Sky Sport Italia, "but if you think that’s the reason why the game went the way it did, I don't think that's the case."

The heartbreak marks a third consecutive World Cup qualification miss for Italy, a sobering reality for a nation with such a rich footballing history. Calafiori acknowledged the sting will last "for quite a while," but emphasized the need to channel that energy into his club ambitions with Arsenal, who are locked in battles for both the Premier League and Champions League titles.

His comments come amid a broader tactical debate in European football. Studio pundit and Milan legend Alessandro Costacurta noted that all Champions League quarter-finalists employed a back four, contrasting with the enduring popularity of a back three in Serie A and with the Azzurri. For now, Calafiori's focus is on closing the club season strongly, hoping team success with the Gunners can help soothe the national team's fresh wounds.