Riccardo Calafiori tells Italy to keep their foot on the gas in Nations League

Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori has urged his team-mates not to rest on their laurels after a strong start to their Nations League campaign.

The Azzurri won both of their fixtures in September, following a 3-1 victory over France in Paris by taking all three points against Israel.

Luciano Spalletti’s side are looking to make amends for a highly disappointing Euro 2024, where they finished a distant second behind eventual winners Spain in their group before losing 2-0 to Switzerland in the last 16.

Belgium also bowed out of the Euros at the same stage at the hands of France and lost to the same opponents in their first Nations League game.

“It will be a complicated match, they have strong players as we have,” Calafiorio told Vivo Azzurro TV.

“I always like to think more about us; if we do what we know how to do we can put anyone in difficulty. We have done very well in the last two games and we cannot stop now.

“I’m very happy to play at the (Stadio) Olimpico, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. It will certainly be an extra reason for pride since I will be playing in front of my friends and family.”

Calafiori moved from Bologna to Premier League side Arsenal in the summer for £42million and has yet to taste defeat in eight appearances for the Gunners this season.

“In the last three or four months my career and life have changed a bit, without warning,” the 22-year-old added.

“I feel a little more responsibility, but I like it because it means that I’m doing well and that everyone expects a lot from me.”

Calafiori will come up against Arsenal team-mate Leandro Trossard on Thursday and joked: “I told him to be careful.

“Joking aside, he is a very strong player and also a great friend, but I will try to bring home the three points.”

Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne, who labelled parts of his side’s performance against France “unacceptable”, is sidelined through injury, along with striker Romelu Lukaku.

Amadou Onana is also ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in Aston Villa’s victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.