Calafiori give and go. Of course the goal is incredible but it is the give and go leading up to the goal that is equally incredible.
Look at the image at the top of this article. See how Calafiori starts pretty deep in his own half with the ball at his feet.
Furthermore, Calafiori plays as a defender for Serie A club Bologna and Italy. He is not an attacking midfielder or the like.
While Calafiori’s final pass to Mattia Zaccagni is brilliant, sliding amongst a group of Croatian players to get the ball to him, it is the give and go leading up to the goal that is even more impressive.
Besides, don’t forget, this give and go and goal comes in the 98th minute. When all the players are surely exhausted. Yet Calafiori doesn’t give up. He doesn’t think the game and Italy’s run in the 2024 Euro tournament is over. He keeps going forward and trying to help Italy get a goal.
It is Davide Frattesi calling for the ball from Calafiori. It is a give and go between Frattesi and Calafiori that leads to the goal.
Moreover, Frattesi is fouled on the play, too. In fact, the referee, Danny Makkelie, very smartly, lets them play on. See referee Makkelie’s arm up saying continue the play on. Advantage to the attacking team indeed. Think if he’d called a foul right then!
This is what Calafiori said after the game versus Croatia:
“I don’t know where I found the energy for that last play, but I needed to give something to this Nazionale and I didn’t want to finish our journey here. I wanted to give something back after my own goal and I think I did.”
Riccardo Calafiori stats versus Croatia. The pass and give and go is what everyone in Italy will remember. Yet Calafiori had a huge game for Italy all around.
- 1 assist
- 3 chances created
- 0 times dribbled past
- 57 passes completed (93.4% accuracy)
- 100% aerial duels won
- 100% tackles won
- 22 years old. What a talent for Italy.
Italy’s Matt Zaccagni scored an electric 98th-minute equalizer versus Croatia. Again though, the Calafiori give and go is what makes this goal even possible. Also, Frattesi deserves a ton of credit for calling for the ball and getting the ball back to Calafiori despite being fouled.
Additionally, the weight of the final pass to Zaccagni by Calafiori is perfect. It enables Zaccagni to strike the ball first time and bend the ball beautifully into the upper corner.
Finally, for Calafiori, the give and go and perfect pass undoubtably made up for his own goal versus Spain.
