Why Calafiori Was Italy's Only Standout Player

[@hungotuan4431]

Calafiori is a midfielder with centerback camoflage for sure...

[@HigherOrderBeing]

he plays as fullback too, complete package I really want him at real madrid

[@OserojiemenKing]

So a libero?

[@mmsjejrinside385]

@@OserojiemenKingpretty much

[@AE01HD]

@@HigherOrderBeing Leny Yoro is better at a defender's main job. Defending.

[@canonogic]

Dont you mean ... Calaflage

[@ACMR6297]

Feels like it's a reiteration of the Libero role with the twist that there's more emphasis in creating more threats from wide rather than purely from the middle.

[@kazielbonn]

Yep my thoughts exactly. Sweepers of old immediately came to mind while watching this video.

[@victorian-dad]

Welcome to Chelsea!

[@thomy1955]

@@victorian-dad he is too good for the Confernce League and an average english team

[@ahmaddeeni]

Bang on, they told us the Libero was dead. Football is finding itself again, no. 10’s are dominating the headlines once more. Sick of the headless strikers of late, they have no art for finishing just thump it and hope for the best, soon they too will return.

[@throtttlebody]

A truly modern Libero

[@bolivariandoapatriagrande2736]

Beckenbauer did this with two feet behind his back.

[@ahmaddeeni]

@@bolivariandoapatriagrande2736 baby steps, we’ve been needing this for years.

[@billyferaldy]

White Saliba Gabriel Calafiori. Some back 4 that.

[@arremedal22]

Damn, but what about Timber and Tomiyasu

[@adhikjoseph137]

⁠@@arremedal22depth. We need that to compete against city. One injury and we need the depth to come in and do the job

[@waynemarshall8836]

Knowing Arteta he’ll be Partey replacement

[@nikhilpanwar3126]

​@@waynemarshall8836I was thinking kinda same. He can play CDM and we can add Zini as LB with Rice as CM and our captain.

[@Aldoseicaduto]

yeah i believe this is something serie a already uses quite often, 2 years ago Kim was doing it every other game, but before Koulibaly was already doing it and it was 5 years ago. Inzaghi tactics even at lazio had centreback do that once in a while, same with Gasperini (i still remember a Djimsiti goal against Napoli of like 3/4 years ago, where he did something similar to then get the ball passed back to him). I believe it originates from the fact that you'll find more ofter very closed teams in Seria A, where there is almost no space and you need something "unexpected" to break the line and make defenders wonder how and when go up to the ball and basically have those seconds of inaction that make you have an advantage. But yes i'm pretty confident in saying this as been used in Serie A from a while

[@TeshiKyoshi]

His versatility is vastly underrated and Arteta is going to have a field day with him

[@ProfessionalNonce]

Calafiori and Donarrumma saving Italy from humiliation

[@andreamoroni-rl4mc]

We umiliate ourselves thanks to spalletti crazy formation. All italy is angry to him

[@ayushmukhopadhyay]

don't forget Bastoni

[@Deehydrate]

Isnt he just a more supportive libero?

[@VTh-f5x]

Rudiger was doing this regularly while playing LCB under Tuchel.

[@rich_mike7]

That one was different he was a wide back with three center back along side with him

[@VTh-f5x]

@@rich_mike7 Incorrect. He was LCB in a 3 at back just like Calafiori.

[@Ananas-280]

​@@rich_mike7no he absolutely was a CB in the 3 at the back that tuchel always plays, exactly like calafiori

[@Ananas-280]

​@@VTh-f5xi pretty much said the same about rudiger in a comment above

[@rich_mike7]

I meant 2 other center back he only stays out wide

[@cruxfleet6214]

Libero... People just forget

[@fingersm]

Like Maradona. He was allowed to go wherever the fck he wanted

[@Bakr_OUAKRIM]

@@fingersm that's not a libero

[@soundsurg3on]

@@fingersmwrong profile: more like prime Koeman

[@Hentzau.]

​@@fingersm Maradona was a Trequartista. The Libero role would go to someone like Beckenbauer.

[@Neoyorchese]

Beckenbauer, Matthäeus, Branco...

[@ebubechukwudi8044]

I'm so happy whenever there's a new video on this channel. You've made my day. That being said, I would love to see his xA, xT, progressive passes and progressive carries stats.

[@Crouchy232323]

Frank Rijkaard approves of this message

[@EnormeEkoH]

you're gonna do a video about swiss? yesterday they dominated italy, and last week they played very well against germany, would be amazing to see a tactic breakdown, cause the positions and rotations seems very interesting! farai un video sulla svizzera? ieri ha dominato l'italia, e settimana scorsa ha giocato benissimo contro la germania, sarebbe bello vedere un'analisi tattica, anche perche le posizioni e le rotazioni sembrano interessantissime!

[@BLACKGIANT2]

Bit over thought... He used to be a full back in Roma. No wonder he has such a propensity to naturally run forward with the ball

[@RealZa999]

Lol fr tryin to explain some bs while yes they could play like that it's dumb and wasteful calafori simply has good attacking vision while being a defender

[@bobbuilder4422]

He's slowly reminding me of the legendary Gaetano Scirea

[@bolivariandoapatriagrande2736]

Baresi

[@aondonativhure]

Man I like your background, with the plant in the pot, the KZbin stuff hanging there and your legendary Blue and Yellow pitch. Nice! Plain and simple, but effective.

[@Flimzilla1879]

"Redefining" is a huge stretch.

[@needfoolthings]

Lucio did it 15 yeard´s ago. What surprises me is that Calafiori gets the freedom in the national team because the players around him are not as accustomed to his style as Bologna are. It IS an achievement and it DOES strike me as one of the few positives of these Euros. He's certainly one of VERY few players who've had 3 good games and that in a role that is at the very least not a normal one.

[@blackluke789]

​​@@needfoolthingsThey are all accustomed to the style of an attacking centerback, Bastoni has been doing it for years now for Inter Milan and Darmian and Di Lorenzo are no strange to overlapping, since they used to/ still play as fullbacks. The midfielders too play for clubs that rely frequently on this attacking strategy

[@GokuOverJesus]

Joel Matip did it also for Liverpool. It's nothing new. Most people are just prisoners of the moment.

[@haitiankid9456]

Well who else is doing it as freely as he is ?

[@blackluke789]

@@haitiankid9456 Everyone who does it must do it as freely as he is, it's the way you do it lol I already mentioned Bastoni but I'm sure there have been many others over the years. Tolói for Atalanta for example, back when he was a starter. It's nothing revolutionary

[@SimoNemo7]

He’s a great player. Not a pure defender or man marker but that’s ok. The thing I loved so much about Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli was that Chiellini was a brick wall and man marker, Bonucci had vision and Barzagli was a good defender as well. I think going forward we need Calafiori in a back 3 with Scalvini (when he recovers from injury) and Bastoni with Buongiorno as a fuller should any of those players not be able to play. More importantly it’s clear Italy cannot play without a 3 man midfield. Tonali is needed back asap, Barella needs to be in great form once more and the third spot can be rotated between a few players like Frattesi, Fagioli or even Miretti. Jorginho and Cristante (as much as I like him) need to never play for the national team again. Gnonto needs to come back. We need clubs to play the youth consistently for playing time. Pafundi, Baldanzi and others have a lot of hype, let them play.

[@Warriors49ers]

Imagine a midfield with Calafiori as the deep lying playmaker surrounded by Tonali and Barella. :)

[@SimoNemo7]

@@Warriors49ers Calafiori is not a midfielder. Calafiori is not a playmaker. Calafiori is a very talented defender who can dribble and play as a left back or center back. A deep lying playmaker you speak of would be Rovella, Prati, or maybe Ricci.

[@Warriors49ers]

@@SimoNemo7 Yes, I know, but none of those guys are starting quality for Italy. The only ones are Tonali, Fagioli, or Locatelli. All those guys are better meazallas tho. We need a future regista as we must move on from Jorginho ASAP. We still would have Bastoni, Buongiorno, and Scalvini in defense. Calafiori played some time in the midfield for Bolonga this year. Something to think about.

[@SimoNemo7]

@@Warriors49ers yeah bro sorry you could not be more wrong about this if you think Calafiori is playing as a 6. Bro can dribble and manager Thiago Motta has some gutsy modern tactics but just because a defender is good doesn’t mean he’s not going to be a defender. Check out Matteo Prati, he’s a regista. Samuele Ricci at my club Torino is decent also as a regista, although Lazio’s Nicolo Rovella is far better. Nicolo Fagioli is not a regista but he is a good defensive midfielder. Nevertheless those 4 midfielders I mentioned all play in the 6 position. If we don’t play with a regista then the playmaker will be a 10/treqaurtista. Pafundi, Baldanzi or Raspadori would be great there. All very technical players. Simone Pafundi is 18, already played for Italy once and has some calling him the next Messi cuz of his cutting left foot and vision. Italy have the players, they need the execution.

[@Goodasspasta]

Calafiori is a badass name

[@gbadamosicollins-dunsin8234]

Watching this few hours after Italy got battered by Switzerland They missed calafiori at the back Overall Italy were terrible today

[@samdarshsoni4306]

Great video. I play maldini in fc mobile and he is amazing there. It felt good to know how good he was in his footballing career.

[@HigherOrderBeing]

Libero role returning WOW

[@aondonativhure]

Ahh the player, Calafiori, he is good!

[@sumukhsuresh]

Bastoni prolly gutted he doesn’t have flowing hair lol

[@JonnyTheRevelator]

Calafiori is highlight of this team. Would love to see Marco Verrati or Sandro Tonalli or even Manuel Locatelli in the squad.

[@andrekoerber7334]

Tonali is banned but will be back soon. Veratti is in the desert and why Locatelli is not playing...nobody knows.

[@JonnyTheRevelator]

@@andrekoerber7334 Sand doesn't stop Ronaldo to come and play, Italy needed that experience in the center. Jorginio is not vibing with Barella quite as well as he used to with Verratti

[@Ananas-280]

Also one more thing, those "moments" and movement you see whem Italy were in trouble, we saw them from vvd, Vincent Kompany, ramos, ruben dias and rudiger is not really something new we witnessed

[@SRS_Metabolic]

Bastoni does this a lot with Inter

[@Aldoseicaduto]

i think the analysis is, those are singolar occasions, almost rare that occur cause a player reads a certain situation, while i can assure you in Seria A breaking the line in a sort of similar way happens more often and it's even actually prepared by coaches with specific movements and such. even tho it is still a situational play

[@Ananas-280]

​@@SRS_Metabolicyeah he absolutely do I'd love to have bastoni at my club this guy is well fitted for us

[@Psyclique-uo9ei]

Liverpool did this with Matip, Jarrell and Ibou too, all these guys have been doing this in their game

[@gooner_duke2756]

No one said its new. Sweeper/libero role was first seen in the 60s. Popular in the 80's and 90s, Beckenbauer, Baresi, etc. Its just whether a manager wants to utilise it or not 🤷‍♂

[@blin0691]

Didn't we already have this conversation about john stones like seasons ago where cb pushing ahead?

[@Coach-rq6jx]

Yep. The difference is that Stones pushed forward to build up, overcome the press and start the attack. Calafiori here _is_ the attack.

[@andreandeo6177]

He is inverted wide center back.. FM25 CB's new role unlocked

[@Brahim82939]

You may have talked about Calfiore well, but you didn't talk properly at all about what Spality's thoughts

[@ethanprince356]

SI are taking notes for FM25…

[@Wide_Trequartista]

Based on Football Meta's video, Calafiori plays as the new, modernised "Libero - Support" that was updated on FM2024.

[@MokaBeats664]

​@@Wide_Trequartista already?

[@Abhirajshurwar]

lmao tru

[@luismao5153]

didn't expect the fm community to show up here

[@Kotyank_shashank]

Yeah this and wide center back for rudiger type player are already there

[@caryard3774]

Pep would love this guy

[@cheifwhat]

This has aged well

[@bzonzon2084]

He didnt play vs swiss as he was suspended for the game

[@highestmadeit8809]

he was usually a left-back and switched to CB !! Check out his history

[@markostankovic7782]

In Football Manager 2021, he was one of the best left back prospects in the game. They knew it even back then..

[@Playmaker020]

Ajax did it first when Marcel Keizer was coach there. Used Frenkie de Jong in the exact same role.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Quite common for center backs to push up the pitch we have seen it with Tapsoba and Kossunou of Leverkusen. Still this is insane.

[@bobbuilder4422]

This is not new, he's a libero. It was a popular position in the 70s & 80s, especially in Italy but as well as all over Europe and South America e.i Scirea, Baresi, Beckenbauer, Figueroa, Passarella

[@SaltHuman]

Koeman was the GOAT libero tho

[@andrekoerber7334]

You are right but true Liberos have died out.

[@spyksyde]

Now I see why Arteta wants him

[@Brahim82939]

It seems that you watched a different match, this is not what Mr. Splitty did tactically..And what he did is taught in universities

[@Daniboi971]

Glad he’s getting recognition. It shouldn’t be possible for a CB to do what he does

[@Erysx12]

Mikel Arteta kinda player

[@grandmedia7603]

Which app do you use for your analysis on the channel?

[@johnnahason4851]

May I know the apps you are using to explain the tactical on the board? Thanks.

[@voidwalkingcat]

I guess that is the role Spalletti was trying with Kim in Napoli. Calafiori seems better at some skills because Kim was not capable enough to do some jobs Calafiori does. Doing this job properly requires his teammates to fill the possible space openings when he took off his position.

[@xandertv3000]

no one except for donnarumma standout, no clue of what spalletti told them, there isn't any kind of "aggressivity" from the leader to score at least one goal by anytime in thhe game against swiss. very disappointed to all the squad and the coach (i'm italian sorry for my rude english)

[@Infimet]

Modern day Lauren Blanc. He would be perfect as Arsenal's 3 honestly

[@morkujinirukandji4820]

Arsenal too small for him

[@fussballtrainerblog352]

My favourite Player at the EC24 🔥🔥

[@andrekoerber7334]

...............to me it has been so far Mikautadse...............

[@SteveStephen-v7d]

Do a video on Enzo maresca new Chelsea coach

[@GoalDreamsLLC]

He would be perfect for Arsenal

[@kmahta]

Calafiori can easily become a CDM under the Arne Slot system.

[@EdwardAnonsi]

Alas, it all depends on the instructions given him by the manager handling if not it may not be as it seems

[@awesimo4684]

Watching this just made me think of John Stones for City.

[@DanielGiuseppeDiNiro]

I like Calafiori, but he's basically a Bastoni copycat. Unfortunately, Spalletti decided to play Bastoni on the right flank in a back four defense for... reasons, I guess, and he only had 1 chance in 4 games to overload the flank

[@teddypicker8799]

Matip used to do this every game

[@alokbhoi8757]

There is something about long hair head band italian player

[@femi_danjuma]

Similar style to Scalvini. Would have been the revelation of this Euros if not for that injury

[@mehmetvursavas5922]

Lmao nowadays a few good games and you're underrated

[@morkujinirukandji4820]

Over 30 solid games for bologna last season. The major reason why they made top 4 in Italy. I don’t think 30 good games is few

[@ThaGamingMisfit]

Calafiori means Libero in ancient 90's language. It's so ancient youtubers seem to never have heard of it.

[@samuelschonenberger]

A Germa KZbinr said: "50% of his hype is that jawline" But I guess the other 50% is also pretty cool

[@richardrmfc6551]

Which program is he here? The tactical view program. Does somebody knows? Top video🔥

[@Romangelo]

With his play style, I'm surprised Manchester City isn't one of the clubs trying to sign him. He'll fit right in.

[@imadabbas8694]

It's not because how the manager assigned roles, it's purely because of his talent and aggressive nature of playing...

[@MishaTavkhelidze]

Will you do Georgia any time soon? Thanks.

[@okonalbert]

Calafiori has been my most admired players so far in the Euros, Madrid is going for him

[@Coach-rq6jx]

No, Real Madrid have made the choice clear; Leny Yoro is the target. Club wants him, player wants the club, it's almost done. If you meant Atletico Madrid, I see the vision there. Simeone would love this guy.

[@sevi7301]

People seem to forget that he used to be a fullback before he moved to bologna

[@adilbaloch8815]

In euro 2024 italy defence line is good 👍 and midfield and forward line is very very poor

[@Vayne-b4u]

Joel Matip already doing this

[@thivianvarnacumaaran6746]

Joel matip was him, but less of the pr

[@user-ry9zo6cl6k]

Mate Joel Matip has been doing that for 5 plus years

[@RossonerriWorldwide]

In realtiy, he's a natural Left Back so overlapping up the pitch isn't something unnatural to him!

[@andrej8377]

this is what matip was doing

[@DJoisar]

joel matip has been doing this since years!!!

[@eccentreak]

I don't mean to be un-nice but i sensed something; This guy does not know how to play football at all, that is what makes him a good journalist. He speaks so much from the perspective of someone who does not know how to run. The way he is reading the scrip just feels like he is already exhausted, imagine him on the pitch then.

[@encorefootball]

Libero reborn

[@kevinchan7513]

I wanna hv a defender with good Defend skill indeed

[@kenansadhuvideos]

Guardiola would create some crazy ideas if he had Calafiori in his team

[@truberthefighter9256]

Wouldn't Bastoni be able to play this?

[@theboysammyjay]

David Luiz was mocked for the same traits 😂

[@morkujinirukandji4820]

David Luiz was a defensive liability.

[@HolyPire]

Sounds like he is playing like a Libero in old times?

[@mumindanmallam]

The modern day Ronald Koeman

[@dermoooojj255]

Just needs to add 25 goals a season

[@workshaw1195]

@@dermoooojj255and occasionally play as a CM or CDM

[@BaneleFrank]

A Mikel Arteta type player for sure

[@mrreese2342]

He has to go to a very big club

[@Marwan..121]

He scored a self goal...not normal at all

[@gkfffkgh3689]

Which one is more valuable at Liverpool Inacio or calafiori?

[@Goonermenu]

I see him as a Left-footed David Luiz.

[@MrMurgen]

Well this standout player exited the tournament quickly

[@generalpierogi7781]

His hair was literally more prominent than the rest of the team (except donnaruma)

[@sinfulxsalty]

Does anyone know what application he uses?

[@mikem9309]

Would love him at newcastle

[@Dou81]

Some traits of David Luiz in his prime.

[@lenickde]

Ever heard of Schlotterbeck?

[@vitalijsmatulkovs5220]

I think fm25 will have libero with att duty, because of him😅

[@junyank1846]

Wow! So is this how Beckenbauer played?

[@spoots1234]

Isn't this what David Luiz has been doing but now it's being praised instead of criticized?

[@avikumar2179]

All I saw from him was his own goal vs Spain 😂

[@Ananas-280]

All out redefining? That's a bit stretching it honestly Yes he's pretty good but come on let's not get carried away its group stage its early and a short timed tournament Now john stones did redefine his position over 2 seasons so that would be more like it

[@cedric9292]

But he already played like this for the whole season in the Serie A and well yes Stones was similar, he also was a little more conservative i.e staying more in the central lanes and also in deeper positions.

[@blin0691]

​@@cedric9292deep? Yeah most of the season he's in pivot role but during the most important match UCL final he played as 8 in diamond system

[@Ananas-280]

​@@cedric9292conservative and deep? You didn't watch that much man city games mate, stones passes and dribbles and playmaking is the key to man city treble, I'm sorry but a CB/CDM who did had the most amount of dribbles in a ucl final since MESSI in 2015 is not conservative Watch his matches against Bayern, arsenal, Madrid, inter milan and Liverpool and after that tell me if you still think he's conservative

[@Ananas-280]

​@@blin0691mind you he completed around 15 dribbles which i believe 12 of them was in the final third

[@cy_pher03]

Isnt Thiago Motta the one that made Calafiori this type of centerback

[@Maxmill_20]

Is see arteta playing him in the 8 role soon

[@losangelesnefastvs]

Essentially, Calafiori is a "false 5" in build-up. You can have that one.