The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gianluigi Buffon

  • Italian optimism wanes after Portugal loss

    The optimism which followed Roberto Mancini’s appointment as Italy coach in May quickly drained away, following their 1-0 loss to Portugal on Monday as thoughts turned to Nations League relegation.

    Mancini made nine changes to his starting line-up against the European champions.

    He continued his search for the right players to help him rebuild Italy, following their failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup.

    But the four-time world champions went down with barely a whimper to a Portugal side, who allowed themselves the luxury of resting Cristiano Ronaldo and Italy’s performance suggested Mancini has a long road ahead.

    “Italy always going downwards,” said the Gazzetta dello Sport, summing up the general sentiment which followed the team’s fourth competitive match without a win.

    The only players to leave Lisbon with any praise were goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who at 19 appears to be the natural heir to Gianluigi Buffon,

    His Milan team mate Alessio Romanogli in defence and forward Simone Zaza.

    Italy’s midfield was disjointed and even Federico Chiesa, who lit up their 1-1 draw with Poland on Friday after coming on as a substitute, failed to provide the same spark.

    Mancini fielded Bryan Cristante and Jorginho in central midfield with Chiesa and Giacomo Bonaventura on the flanks in a formation,

    This occasionally resembled the much-maligned 4-2-4 used by his hapless predecessor Gian Piero Ventura.

    Read Also: World Cup: Uruguay knock Portugal out

    Zaza was partnered by Ciro Immobile in a two-man strike force but, not for the first time, Immobile, a prolific scorer for Lazio, was a let-down playing for his country.

    With Italy short of world-class players, Mancini insisted the only way forward was to test less experienced players even when they lack playing time at club level.

    These included Mattia Caldara who has yet to make his debut for AC Milan following his move from Juventus and played on Monday.

    Mancini has complained that Italian players are being squeezed out by foreigners at Serie clubs.

    “It is true that we have many young players and we are in an experimental phase; however we must continue on this path and pick ourselves up as soon as possible.

    “If a young player doesn’t play at a high level then it’s clear that they’ll struggle in the first few games, however, we knew this before,” he said.

    If Italy finish bottom of the three team group, they will be relegated to League B of UEFA’s new competition a price Mancini said they would have to risk paying as he continued to experiment.

    “We do not like losing, it’s bad, but it’s also true that we have to take risks and get experience in these games, which emphasised that the priority was to qualify for Euro 2020.

    “We knew there were problems in this squad, because otherwise Italy would have qualified for the 2018 World Cup,” said Mancini.

    The European Championship qualifying competition, which is separate from the Nations League, starts in March.

  • Gianluigi Buffon enjoys lunch with fiancee Ilaria D’Amico

    GIANLUIGI BUFFON puffed on a cigarette as his lunch date with fiancee Ilaria D’Amico was interrupted as his manager Thomas Tuchel bumped into his star goalkeeper at a Paris restaurant.

    The 40-year-old custodian took in the sights with his television host wife as he continues to get used to life in France.

    Tuchel, who also moved to Paris this summer, looked delighted to have seen the veteran keeper he signed on a free transfer from Juventus this summer.

    However, he may not have been too pleased to see Buffon puffing on a cigarette as he was joined by friends.

    PSG have started the Ligue 1 campaign off with three wins from three – having beaten Caen, Guingamp and Angers so far this season.

    Buffon impressed in PSG’s opening two league games but had to make do with a place on the bench during the French champions’ win over Angers last Saturday.

    Buffon, who signed a one-year deal with PSG but has an option of a second, believes he is now better than he was five years ago.

    He said: “After 40 years in Italy, it is never easy to change one’s life. I had no idea how the other players would welcome me, I was also a bit worried about this.

  • Gianluigi Buffon: What you might not know

    GIANLUIGI Buffon once joked that he could play until he is 65; he has confirmed that, aged 40, he is ready for the next chapter after joining Paris Saint-Germain.

    • Sport is in Buffon’s blood: mother Maria Stella held the Italian discus record for 17 years; father Adriano was a national junior shot put champion; meanwhile sisters Guendalina and Veronica played volleyball, Guendalina winning the European Cup with Matera. Former Milan and Italy keeper Lorenzo Buffon was a cousin of Gianluigi’s grandfather.
    • Buffon overcame a terrible fear of wasps. “Just before a game his goalkeeping coach told me Buffon couldn’t play – he couldn’t throw himself around because there were too many wasps,” Fabio Capello explained. “‘OK no problem,’ I said, and just asked his understudy to get ready. Ten seconds later, Buffon told me his phobia was over because he really wanted to play.”
    • Buffon supports Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany: “When I was a child I didn’t know how to pronounce their name. I can do better now, but I still think it’s not quite right.” When Juventus met the Bundesliga outfit in the UEFA Champions League in 2015/16, Buffon gave a pair of his gloves to their fans but received nothing in return. Gladbach later sent him a scarf bearing the legend ‘A German team’ – in jest since, like Buffon, most foreigners find Mönchengladbach a bit of a mouthful.
    • Buffon started out as a midfielder, becoming a keeper because his hero was former Cameroon and Espanyol custodian Thomas N’Kono. He named his first son Louis Thomas after him; his second, David Lee, is named in honour of Van Halen singer David Lee Roth.
    • As well as those two sons with his former wife, Czech model Alena Šeredová, Buffon has a third, Leopoldo Mattia, with his new partner, TV presenter Ilaria D’Amico. D’Amico and Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri both mocked Buffon’s Tom Selleck-style moustache in a TV interview.
    • Buffon was the president of home-town club Carrarese for three years until 2015. The acronym on his gloves C.U.I.T. stands for Commando Ultrà Indian Trips, the hard-core group of Carrarese fans.
    • He made his senior debut aged 17 on 19 November 1995, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 home draw with AC Milan, including notable saves from the likes of Roberto Baggio and George Weah.
    • Having earned his nickname by saving a penalty from Internazionale Milano’s Ronaldo in 1997 and celebrating by showing the fans a Superman T-shirt, Buffon won his first European trophy, the 1999 UEFA Cup, as Parma beat Marseille 3-0 in the final. He lifted the Coppa Italia the same season.
    • In summer 2001, became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, Juventus signing him for over €50m. He landed the Scudetto in his first term in Turin.
    • Played his 1,000th competitive game – a European Qualifier against Albania in March 2017 – and then announced his retirement from international football in November 2017 having made 175 Italy outings only to subsequently reverse that decision: his final total is 176.

  • Buffon gets emotional farewell after 17years @Juve

    There were emotional scenes in Turin on Saturday as Gianluigi Buffon played his final game for Juventus after 17 years with the Italian champions.

    Buffon announced this week that he would leave Juventus at the end of the season – although he would not retire from football, as was expected.

    The home game at Juventus Stadium against Hellas Verona was his final match for the Serie A winners, and there were tears from both player and fans before the game, and then when he was subbed off to a standing ovation after 64 minutes.

    Before the game, Buffon went the edge of the stands to meet fans, exchanging hugs, handshakes and kisses with the supporters who have idolised him ever since he arrived at Juventus in 2001. One child fan was seen in floods of tears as he met his hero.

    There were plenty of banners in the crowd, one of which called Buffon an ‘immortal hero’, while another declared the long-time Italy and Juventus No1 to be holy. Another, which contained a picture of a younger Buffon earlier in his career at Juve, read ‘Ciao Gigi! You’re my wonderwall’. One banner simply called Buffon ‘the legend’.

    All the banners were topped just before kick-off when a gigantic tifo of Buffon’s face and upper body, holding a shield baring the Italian flag, was unveiled in the stands.

    Buffon had looked overwhelmed in the warm-up, appearing to wipe tears away from his eyes as he clapped and gave his thumbs up to the crowd.

    Before the game, Buffon – wearing the captain’s armband – led Juve out accompanied by his three sons, Louis, David, and baby Leopoldo. Buffon’s wife Ilaria D’Amico was also there to offer support, while his three children all wore replica Juventus kits

    Buffon kept a clean sheet in his final Juventus game before being substituted on 64 minutes with the score at 2-0 in order to receive the adulation from the crowd. He hugged every outfield player and manager Massimiliano Allegri before taking his place on the bench as third choice stopper Carlo Pinsoglio came on.

    The end of Buffon’s time at Juventus has not been without controversy, after he was sent off in their Champions League quarter final defeat to Real Madrid. Buffon subsequently accused referee Michael Oliver of having a ‘rubbish bin for a heart’, among other insults, and has refused to apologise even after it emerged the official had received death threats.

     

     

     

     

  • UCL: Bayern Face Real Madrid, Liverpool Draw AS Roma

    Bayern Munich will play against Real Madrid in the Semi-Finals of the UEFA Champions League, as Liverpool will lock horns with AS Roma.

    Real Madrid reached the last four with a last-gasp 4-3 aggregate victory over Juventus. They had won 3-0 in Turin in a match where Cristiano Ronaldo scored a wonder goal, and lost 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeau. Ronaldo again had the final word of the match, when he converted an injury-time penalty after Gianluigi Buffon was sent off for his furious reaction to referee Michael Oliver’s decision.

    Bayern Munich on their part only had to hold on to a goalless draw in the second leg against Sevilla, with a  2-1 first-leg away win enough to take them through.

    Liverpool, the last English side standing in the competition this season, face AS Roma after cruising past fellow Premier League rivals Manchester City with a 5-1 aggregate victory. The Reds won 3-0 at Anfield, and also secured a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

    AS Roma on their part secured an incredible away-goals comeback victory over Barcelona to get through, beating the Spanish giants 3-0 in Roma having lost the first leg 4-1 at Camp Nou.

    Bayern Munich host Real Madrid on 24th April and Liverpool entertain AS Roma a day after. The reverse fixtures take will take place with AS Roma hosting Liverpool on 1st May, and Real Madrid host Liverpool on 2nd May, 2018.

    The draw further revealed that the winner between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will play “host” in the final at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv on 26th May, 2018

  • Buffon says will accept offer to play again for Italy

    Buffon says will accept offer to play again for Italy

    Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is prepared to go back on his decision to retire from international football if he is picked for the friendlies against England and Argentina next month.

    Buffon had called it a day in November immediately after Italy’s astonishing failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup, ending a 20-year international career in which he made 175 appearances.

    However, on Monday, Italy’s interim coach Luigi Di Biagio said that it was not right that the 40-year-old’s international career should end with the infamous 0-0 draw against Sweden.

    The draw had condemned them to a first World Cup absence for 60 years.

    “I had thought about going on holiday for a few days with my family, but when the national team needs you, you must be present and not desert them,” replied Buffon.

    Read Also:  Buffon to retire from football after Russia 2018

    “There’s nothing to add to Di Biagio’s words other than I feel a sense of responsibility and loyalty which I must give to the national team in this transitional moment,” added the 2006 World Cup winner.

    “I repeat, it’s a way of showing loyalty and a sense of responsibility towards Italy. A new national team is being born and the first games are not comfortable ones because we will face Argentina and England.

    “I think that any experienced player can be useful at the start, even if it’s just to give advice to the young ones.”

    NAN

     

  •  Buffon apologises over Azzurri misfortune

     Buffon apologises over Azzurri misfortune

     

    Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has offered Italy an unreserved apology following Azzurri inability to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    The veteran safehand who had hoped to crown his career with another world cup outing confirmed his retirement from international shortly after the nail biting 1-0 defeat in Monday’s play-off against Sweden. He however expressed delight at calibre of team she is living behind with a never-say-die spirit that is almost infectious, predicting that the team will bounce back in a jiffy.

    An emotional Buffon said: “I’m not sorry for myself but all of Italian football. We failed at something which also means something on a social level. There’s regret at finishing like that, not because time passes.

    “Those who’ve played know how hard these matches are. We weren’t able to express ourselves at our best. We lacked the composure to score. Play-offs are decided by episodes and they went against us but you can understand that when you’re at fault.

    “We have pride, strength and we’re stubborn. We know how to get back up again as we’ve always done. I’m leaving an Italy side that will know how to speak for itself. Hugs to everyone, especially those I’ve shared this wonderful journey with.

    The Juventus goalkeeper, who made his Italy debut in October 1997, kept a clean sheet against Sweden at San Siro but his outfield team-mates failed to score the goals that could have overturned the Scandinavians’ 1-0 advantage in the two-legged European play-off, as Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

  • Buffon to retire from football after Russia 2018

    Buffon to retire from football after Russia 2018

     

     

    Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has said he will retire after the World Cup – unless he can help club side Juventus win the Champions League this season.

    The 39-year-old World Cup winner, who on Monday was named goalkeeper of the year at the FIFA Best awards, has never lifted European football’s top prize.

    And only the prospect of winning the competition this season and qualifying for next year’s Club World Cup would prevent him calling it a day in 2018.

    “This is my last season and I am quite convinced of the choices I take,” he told Sky Italia.

    “I am a very calm person, in the sense that I am not afraid of the future and of what my life may be.

    “It would not change anything to play for one or two more years. It would take nothing or add anything to what I have already done.

    “The only way would be to win the Champions League and, at that point, to try to win the Intercontinental. Maybe (Wojciech) Szczesny could play a game and me another.

    “But I think with a goalkeeper like him, it is normal that next year I’ll be aside.”

    Buffon has won eight Serie A titles, Serie B once, the Coppa Italia four times and the UEFA Cup, but has been on the losing side in three Champions League finals. He was a member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad.

    Buffon is definitely not a new comer to awards.

    In 2015, France Football rated him as one of the ten best footballers in the world who are over the age of 36.In 2016; he was named the greatest goalkeeper in history by the same magazine

    Later that year, he was also named the greatest goalkeeper of all-time in the UEFA Champions League in an official UEFA online Twitter poll.

    In 2017, Buffon launched his own brand of wine under the name “Buffon #1”.

  • Buffon says he will retire next year

    Buffon says he will retire next year

    Juventus goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, has admitted he is “99.9 percent certain” that next season will be his last as a player.

    The 39-year-old intends to retire from international football, after the World Cup in Russia and will also end his club career.

     “I’m 99.9 percent certain of that,” Buffon told a foreign media.

    “I’m going to have one final, intense season, rich in big moments, and then it will be time to say enough is enough.

    “We’ve just left one small possibility open with the [Juve] president [Andrea Agnelli], and that is if we manage to win the Champions League I will carry on playing one more year to try to win the World Club Cup and other trophies.”

    Buffon began his career at Parma in 1995 and went on to make 168 appearances for them before joining Juventus in 2001. He is closing in on 500 Juventus appearances and is Italy’s most capped player with 169 appearances since making his debut in 1997.

    During his career, he has won eight Serie A titles, four Italian cups, the UEFA Cup and the World Cup.
  • Champions League Final: Buffon Runs to Pope?

    Champions League Final: Buffon Runs to Pope?

    Gianluigi Buffon can become the oldest winner of the Champions League ahead of Paolo Maldini at the age of 39, but Paul Parker feels Real Madrid could find a chink in his armour on Saturday night.

    It would be a wonderfully romantic story if Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon becomes the oldest winner of the Champions League, but Real Madrid will not be in the mood to give his glorious career a golden finale.

    I’m looking forward to seeing how Cristiano Ronaldo copes going up against that Juventus defence. He has scored 10 times in the Champions League, and It will be fascinating to see how he plans to outwit the Italians.

    Juve possess a very clever and streetwise backline, losing only three goals in 12 matches in the tournament which speaks for itself. But if there is one weakness in that Juventus side, I think it is probably Buffon at crosses and corners.

    You can see that he is struggling to deal with them at times. I don’t know if it is his decision-making or simply because that happens when you get to a certain point in your career.

    At the age of 39, your movement is perhaps not as sharp as it used to be when you are coming for crosses.

    Over two legs against Monaco in the semi-finals, he got caught out coming for crosses. For me, it is certainly a concern.

    Cristiano Ronaldo prepares for Champions League final.

    Cristiano Ronaldo prepares for Champions League final.Eurosport

    As great as he has been in shot-stopping in this tournament, there’s definitely a weakness with balls coming into the box.

    Crosses are one of Ronaldo’s strengths. The Juventus defenders can go deep to win headers, but anywhere between six yards to the penalty box can be open season when you sometimes need a goalkeeper to come and punch. Or ease the strain on your defence.

    As great as Buffon has been over the years in winning the World Cup, UEFA Cup and all those national trophies, there comes to a point when sentiment comes into it. And you do worry about the balls coming into the area.

    He is a bit more reluctant to come than yesteryear. It might sound a bit old fashioned, but if you are Real Madrid you will be looking to ask questions of the goalkeeper.

    He will be protected by superb defenders in Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini who defend like their lives depend upon it.

    The Juventus defence has allowed Buffon to extend his career, and why he has been so good for so long with those three in front of him.

    Juventus are a unit, but Buffon needs his defenders more than ever in Cardiff.

    Champions League needs an Italian winner

    I’ve tipped Juventus from day one in this tournament because I felt they had the best balance to win the trophy. I’ve not been proved wrong so far, and I’d definitely like to see them do it.

    We’ve had English, German and Spanish sides win it over the past six years so I think we need the Italians to come good and get Serie A back on the ladder.

    Inter won this tournament in 2010, but Juventus look better balanced then them this time as they bid to win this for the first time since 1996.

    Massimiliano Allegri and his daughter, Valentina Allegri, celebrating Juventus scudetto, Serie A 2016-17 (Getty Images)

    Massimiliano Allegri and his daughter, Valentina Allegri, celebrating Juventus scudetto, Serie A 2016-17 (Getty Images)Getty Images

    It is refreshing that Juve have been in two finals in three years having rebuilt their squad, but it would be good if we had a Juventus win. It would shake up Serie A to give that league greater prominence across the world.

    With Milan on the way back, it just might help the Italian clubs to recruit better players.

    Juventus are very good in defence, but they have also lifted it offensively. Mario Mandzukic, Dani Alves and Paulo Dybala have provided a real attacking threat.

    Massimiliano Allegri has done a fantastic job as Juventus coach, and I don’t think anybody really thought he could bring the club back to this level with what is essentially a new side from the one that lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the final two years ago.

    It has been a real team effort from Juventus. One more win will be the ultimate endorsement of their hard work.

    Madrid and Juventus set benchmark for Premier League

    The Champions League final is on the doorstep of the world’s richest football league, but the millions from television does not bring class or quality to the table.

    If that were true, we would have seen a Premier League side in or around this final, but they have been sorely lacking.

    England will have five teams in there next season, and the omens do not look great. There is a difference between them, and the two teams in Cardiff. Our sides have got a lot of work to do in the summer.

    Manchester United are best equipped because they set up not to lose. They are difficult to beat which isn’t the greatest compliment to pay a club with so much clout.

    Manchester City set out to score more goals rather than defend, you can forget about Arsenal at this level – and the Gunners are absent next season anyway – and Tottenham have shown they struggle at Wembley. I think teams will raise their game against Spurs because they are playing in the big open spaces of Wembley. It is going to be difficult for them playing there in Europe.

    Liverpool have plenty of work to do defensively at Champions League level. They were not great taking the lead and holding it, and that can cost you in the Champions League.

    Antonio Conte needs more experienced players playing his preferred system at Chelsea. It works in the Premier League, but you need a plan B in the Champions League.There is work needed there on a bigger and stronger squad. A game-changer would be needed for them I think for them to think about enjoying an extended run.