Gianluigi Buffon

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon not included
in FIFA's 59-man Ballon d'Or shortlist

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/2/9438627/juventus-italy-gianluigi-buffon-fifa-ballon-dor-shortlist

Oct 2, 2015

When it comes to individual awards in the world of football, there's pretty much a group of three or four players we know will be the finalists each year no matter what happens. That means the list before the final list is actually something people tend to care about. They won't be finalists, but the recognition still is pretty nice.

Below are the six Juventus players who were included in FIFA's 59-man shortlist for the annual Ballon d'Or. Some of them are still around and contributing quite a bit these days, while the other half of them departed over the summer. I think you can guess which one is which. We're all smart people around these parts.

So, without much more blabbering about, those six players:

Paul Pogba, Álvaro Morata, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tévez

Here's a list of Juventus players who weren't included:

Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci

There should be a laugh track attached to what has just been written. Except it's not a joke. It's not a prank that will end with all your friends coming out from behind the blinds and proceeding to laugh and laugh and laugh.

So what did Buffon do to not make the 59-man shortlist? That's a pretty good question. Let's take a closer look from a little game he played in back in June of this year called the Champions League final. You guys and gals might have heard of it once or twice.

Man, I'm sure glad that guy didn't waste a spot on FIFA's beloved list of possible Ballon d'Or recipients. What a waste that award would have been.

You have to wonder what a guy like Buffon would have to do to actually get nominated. Oh, right, apparently be Arsenal's part-time goalkeeper, I guess. Fourth place in the EPL and a disappointing Champions League finish, it is!

In all seriousness, if Buffon, still easily one of the best in the game today despite officially entering his late-30s, can't make the cut, you can't take something like this with any kind of validity anymore. Do the other Juventus players deserve to be on there? Well, yeah, probably. There can be a case made for each of them, even those who didn't have seasons that matched up to those of the past.

But for Buffon — and let's not forget about the season Bonucci is coming off of, too — to be left out is something that makes you just shake your head for seconds on end. You look at all the other keepers on the shortlist and it's not like Buffon is any less than them. Are they great in their own way? Of course. But Buffon is still the gold standard. He is, for all intents and purposes, the best of the bunch. Facts are facts. (Even if this author is just a somewhat bit biased when it comes to this subject.)

That's cool, though. I think Buffon is pretty okay when it comes to winning trophies and hardware these days.

At least we know how good Buffon still is these days even if FIFA doesn't. Cue the laugh track, too, while you're at it.

[Socrates 8435]

Agent: ‘Who’s been better than Buffon?’

http://www.football-italia.net/73792/agent-%E2%80%98who%E2%80%99s-been-better-buffon%E2%80%99?

Oct 2, 2015

Gigi Buffon’s agent is mystified by his Ballon d’Or snub - “if you can find a goalkeeper who did better…”

The Juventus ‘keeper was not included on the shortlist for this year’s award, with Massimo Luongo, who spent last season at Swindon Town, and David Ospina making the cut.

“What he [buffon] has done and is doing is plain for everyone to see,” Silvano Martina told Tuttomercatoweb.

“I don’t know if he’d win, so it still doesn’t have much meaning, but when you look at some of the names on there, the fact that Gianluigi isn’t among them speaks for itself.

“If you can find a goalkeeper who did better that he did in all competitions last season then…”

The Bianconeri lifted their fourth Scudetto in a row last season, as well as reaching the Champions League final, with Buffon's save from Dani Alves in the first half of that match named as one of UEFA's saves of the year.

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon speaks out after Ballon d'Or snub

The 37-year-old has not been named on the 59-man shortlist for the award,
despite another successful campaign with Juventus last season.

http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4563/main/2015/10/02/15957322/-?

Oct 2, 2015

Gianluigi Buffon admits he has been “overwhelmed” by the support he has received after missing out on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist.

The 37-year-old helped guide Juventus to their fourth consecutive Serie A title last season, while the club also won the Coppa Italia and reached the Champions League final where they were beaten by Barcelona.

But despite this, Buffon has failed to make the 59-man list of candidates which includes only two Italians - Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Pirlo.

“This morning, on a day like any other, I looked at my phone was overwhelmed by the messages of support and solidarity, and not because I wasn’t nominated among the 50 or 60 candidates for the Ballon d’Or,” Buffon posted on his Facebook page.

“Honestly, I was not aware that the list would be drawn-up today, so I was caught by surprise by the flood of people gathering around me!

“By now you may have guessed, that for years I’ve been an incurable optimist, and it’s hard for me to feel resentment, frustration or above all, resignation.

“So do you know what I’m taking away from this incident? The spontaneous embrace I received this morning from all of you, and the media commenting on my exclusion.

“Thank you, it really warmed my heart, it was an act of great respect which didn’t embarrass me, but one which I loved for a thousand and one reasons.

“It was a personal thing, and it’s proof that I don’t have, and never have had, saints watching over me in heaven.

“I took what I’ve been given, and I got where I did on the basis of something that is often undervalued - merit.

“There are a lot of other reasons, but above all I like to think that you care about me as an Italian among Italians, but also as an Italian in the world, which makes me see even more beauty in this wonderful adventure that is life!

“Of course, I’ll tell you in all sincerity that I thought I might be among the five best goalkeepers of last season. Obviously it’s gone to my head.”

[Socrates 8435]

Gianluigi Buffon's Ballon D'or omission
bemuses Paolo Maldini

http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4563/main/2015/10/02/15957322/-?

Oct 3, 2015

Former Italian internaional defender Paolo Maldini has admitted that he cannot understand why Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was left off the Ballon D'or shortlist.

The 37-year-old was not part of the 59-man long list revealed this week but Maldini has told his former international teammate to ignore the snub.

Maldini told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport: "At nearly 38, he is still one of the top three goalkeepers in the world. I can understand Neuer and Courtois. But Claudio Bravo? David Ospina?

"Usually team results are also taken into consideration. Gigi was one of the reasons Juve reached the Champions League final and won in Italy. Did they see the save he made on Dani Alves in Berlin?

"I hope this decision doesn't bother him as it is absurd."

Buffon has made 429 appearances over 14 years at Juventus winning six Scudettos, a Coppa Italia title and reaching two Champions League finals.

[Socrates 8435]

Gianluigi Buffon's reported Ballon d'Or
snub stuns Cesare Prandelli

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2650453/gianluigi-buffon-reported-ballon-dor-snub-stuns-prandelli?

Oct 6, 2015

Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says it would be scandalous if the leaked Ballon d'Or shortlist -- which did not feature Gianluigi Buffon -- proved accurate.

Spain's Mundo Deportivo published a long-list of 59 names it claims are in the running for FIFA's prestigious annual award.

While the likes of David Ospina, Christian Atsu and Massimo Luongo are present, Buffon is not.

The Juventus goalkeeper only found out about his potential exclusion from the morning newspapers in Italy, and released a statement explaining his surprise at not being considered at least one of the top five goalkeepers in the world.

FIFA is due to reveal its official list on Wednesday and Prandelli believes if it does prove to be the one published last week, it would be a travesty.

"It's a scandal, not just a slip-up," he told Radio Onda Libera. "I was shocked [when I found out]. Buffon's class can be seen also in the answer he gave with his own statement."

Prandelli also expressed his surprise in the way the Serie A season has started, with his former club Fiorentina leading the way and Juventus struggling.

"Fiorentina are playing good football and they are giving their fans something to dream about," he said. "It's a club which really lets you work. Foreign coaches, like Paulo Sousa, are not plunged into a stressful situation when they arrive, which means they can just focus on the work.

"It's been an odd season so far because many of the big clubs have changed a lot and they're struggling, while the other are more ready and are causing upsets."

[Socrates 8435]

Why Gianluigi Buffon Will Spend
at Least Two More Seasons at Juventus

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2577616-why-gianluigi-buffon-will-spend-at-least-two-more-seasons-at-juventus?

Oct 11, 2015

Very few players have enjoyed careers as long or as decorated as Gigi Buffon. The Juventus captain is currently enjoying his 21st season as a professional. He has played 770 games for the Bianconeri and former club Parma, while making a record 151 appearances for the Italian national team over that same period.

Making his debut with Parma as a 17-year-old, Buffon would win the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia with the Ducali, he would impress enough to convince the Turin giants to spend almost €52 million to bring him to the club.

That remains both Juve’s record signing and the highest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper, yet he has proven to be worth every cent. Winning no fewer than eight Serie A championships—two of which were later revoked as part of the Calciopoli punishments—as well as the 2007 Serie B title, last season’s Coppa Italia and two Champions League runners-up medals.

Also lifting the 2006 World Cup with the Azzurri, Buffon has been named Serie A goalkeeper of the year on nine occasions, while being declared the best goalkeeper of the 21st Century by the IFFHS, per Football Italia.

Almost 20 years after his breakthrough, it is difficult to know just how long Buffon has left at the highest level, but he told a press conference back in April (h/t Brian Homewood of Reuters) that he has no immediate plans to retire:

A player stops when he feels that he is no longer what he was before on the pitch. Looking at it objectively, that is not my case. I will continue to keep playing as long as I am doing well, otherwise it would be a waste.

Why bid farewell to football if you are playing well? At the first sign of slipping, I would be the first to bow out. I think one should stop playing when goes onto the field and you see that you are no longer the same person.

Called “a great player and a great professional,” by Juventus general director Beppe Marotta last year (h/t Football Italia), Buffon was handed a new contract by the Bianconeri at around the same time. The deal will run until June 2017, according to the club’s official website. This prompted questions and speculation about whether it could be his final extension.

“The fact that it could very well be my last contract was a factor, but I’m not worried about that,” Buffon told reporters at a subsequent press conference. “I feel energised. I want to continue performing to a high level, so that I can be an asset and a point of reference for the club.”

He has done just that already this term, playing a vital role as Juventus struggled through the early part of 2015/16. Particularly effective with a string of saves during September’s Champions League victory over Manchester City, his coach would single him out for praise shortly after the final whistle.

“I hope he will go on for as long as possible, certainly as long as I am manager," Massimiliano Allegri said at his post-match press conference per Richard Jolly of ESPN FC. “Buffon is someone who is extraordinary goalkeeper, perhaps the best ever in the history of football. He never fails.”

Despite now being a 37-year-old veteran, that is certainly true, and it would be no surprise to see a one-year extension being added to that Juventus contract before too long. That would allow Buffon to play in the 2018 World Cup, which would be a fitting way for the Italian legend to call time on a truly historic career.

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon fit for Champions League?

http://www.football-italia.net/74541/buffon-fit-champions-league?

Oct 19, 2015

Gianluigi Buffon will reportedly be fit for Juventus’ Champions League match with Borussia Monchengladbach.

The goalkeeper suffered a calf injury during last night’s draw with Inter at San Siro, and admitted after the match he may not be fit for Wednesday’s game.

However, Sportmediaset is reporting today that tests have shown that the ‘keeper has not suffered a serious injury, and will be ready for the match.

The Bianconeri have won both of their opening matches in the competition, and can take a big step toward qualification by beating the German side.

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon: ‘Juve in fight for top’

http://www.football-italia.net/74564/buffon-%E2%80%98juve-fight-top%E2%80%99?

Oct 20, 2015

Juventus captain Gigi Buffon says his team ‘will be in the fight for the top’ but admits that talking about the Scudetto right now is ‘delusional’.

The Bianconeri played out a goalless draw with Inter in the Derby d’Italia on Sunday and have struggled to find league form, currently occupying 14th place in the table after eight rounds.

However, Buffon believes that they are not yet out of the running and targets a five-point gap from the summit by the festive period.

“Anyone with ambitions to win the title was hoping for us to lose at San Siro,” he told Tuttosport.

“They wanted a funeral for us because many are more relaxed when Juve is out of the game.

“But it’s not like that – we will be in the fight for the top.

“If we gave a mediocre performance on Sunday I would’ve agreed with those who took us for dead, but instead it was powerful and the team has gone back to being solid.

“We have already played against Roma, Napoli and Inter, all away from home, while the others have encountered few of these challenges.

“To talk about the Scudetto now would be delusional but if we can rediscover consistency, we will confirm that we are protagonists.

“At Christmas I hope to be five or six points off the pace. At the moment we are nine points away, which is not so much.

“At San Siro, I suffered a severe bruise, but I think I’ll recover.

“In any case it would not be a problem, since we are lucky to have a high quality reserve goalkeeper.

“Having Neto on the pitch in my place would not change anything.”

[Socrates 8435]

Rampulla: Buffon Is A Juventus Legend

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/rampulla-buffon-is-a-juventus-legend/?

Oct 22, 2015

Former Juventus goalkeeper Michelangelo Rampulla has hailed the Bianconeri’s current number one Gianluigi Buffon after he overtook Alessandro Del Piero’s club record for playing the most minutes in the Champions League.

The Old Lady could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Borussia Monchengladbach and have allowed Manchester City back into contention for top spot in Group D, but Rampulla insists the night very much belongs to Buffon.

“I’m very happy for him because I remember the difficult times that the club went through in Serie B,” Rampulla told Tutto Mercato Web.

“He decided to remain at the club and has made history.

“He has achieved what I always wanted to achieve. It is what we all hoped would happen and now it has happened.

“He is a legend of Juventus.”

[Socrates 8435]

Gianluigi Buffon breaks Juventus
record and targets 2018 World Cup

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2683487/gianluigi-buffon-breaks-juventus-record-and-targets-2018?

Oct 26, 2015

Gianluigi Buffon has told Rai Tre TV he still hopes to be playing in 2018 after surpassing Alessandro Del Piero's record for the number of minutes played for Juventus.

Buffon, the Italy and Juventus captain, surpassed Del Piero's landmark of 48,794 minutes in the 0-0 Champions League draw with Borussia Monchengladbach last week.

The 37-year-old goalkeeper wants to make it to 50,000 minutes and beyond and said: "I'm proud of it [the record], but I think I've still got a lot to give.

"It's one of my objectives still to be playing in 2018.

"Since turning 32 or 33 each year counts for seven, like with dogs. As a lad, unrestrained passion for football is what drives you. As you grow, you realise that what stimulates you the most is the challenge. This is why I enjoy playing every game.

"I've not yet thought about what I will do [after football] -- I've not yet had that enlightening moment. I prefer to play these next two-and-a-half years the best I can."

Buffon is set to take part in his fourth European Championship in France next summer, and could chalk up his fifth World Cup finals appearance in Russia in 2018.

In addition to having played more minutes than any other Juve player, he is Italy's most capped player with 152 to his name.

Barring injury, Buffon will captain Italy at Euro 2016 and appears on course to lead the Azzurri out in Russia at the age of 40.

But he still has a way to go to match Del Piero's appearance record for Juventus -- he has made 547, while the striker made 705.

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon Excited By The Challenge Of Scudetto Defence

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/juventus-captain-excited-by-the-challenge-of-scudetto-defence/?

Oct 26, 2015

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has expressed his belief that the Bianconeri’s fortunes will start to turn for the better soon.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side have not enjoyed the start to the Serie A season that many expected from them, but following their 2-0 defeat of Atalanta on Sunday, Buffon feels that things are starting to pick up for the Old Lady.

Speaking to Rai Tre, Buffon was in a positive mood as he evaluated his side’s start to the season and discussed where things would go from here.

“Right now, we are a team under construction,” the veteran goalkeeper began.

“We are still trying to find the right balance and the good results will start to come soon,” he added.

The reigning Scudetto holders have, quite remarkably, won only three of their opening nine Serie A fixtures, leading to many writing off their chances of defending their title. Buffon, however, admitted he was excited by the challenge.

“I do not know if we will win [the Scudetto],” he said.

“The players will definitely return to form.

“I play for the challenge, it is something priceless.”

The 37-year-old has kept three clean sheets in his last three outings for Juve in all competitions.

[Socrates 8435]

BUFFON: “WE WEAR THE JUVENTUS SHIRT
AND MUST DO IT JUSTICE”

http://www.juvefc.com/buffon-we-wear-the-juventus-shirt-and-must-do-it-justice/?

Oct 29, 2015

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon berated the team, delcaring “We wear the Juventus shirt and must do it justice.”

Speaking to Mediaset after Juve’s disappointing loss to Sassuolo, the Juve skipper had some strong words for his teammates.

“This defeat was something we really wanted to avoid, seeing as we were doing better recently,” the goalkeeper told the media outlet.

“I wasn’t angry with the referee, I just spoke with respect and accepted his decisions. I am very disappointed by the first half performance.

“If we were a provincial team, I’d be satisfied with the reaction when down to 10 men, but seeing as we are Juventus and we have different objectives, I can only be upset.

“There could’ve been excuses three or four weeks ago, but after the injured players returned and we played two or three games very well, we cannot get the first half as wrong as we did tonight.

“I think we have a large squad of quality and men who can change places without problems, but if we play like we did in the first half, failing to win a single challenge and failing to string three passes together, we can’t blame a single area of the team.

“We all played badly. The first half was simply unacceptable. I am stunned, as I am the captain and it hurts my soul to see my team dominated like that, to see my team not realise how important this game is and what attitude to take.

“There was also too much arguing with the referee. Talking about the referee all the time is what losers do and we do not stoop to that level. We wear the Juventus shirt and must do it justice.”

[Socrates 8435]

Borussia Monchengladbach Fans Issue
Apology To Juventus Stopper Buffon

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/borussia-monchengladbach-fans-issue-apology-to-juventus-stopper-buffon/?

Nov 6, 2015

Borussia Monchengladbach fans have issued an apology to Juventus’ veteran stopper Gianluigi Buffon for treating the Italian badly after their recent Champions League clash at Borussia Park.

As soon as the game concluded as 1-1, Buffon made his way to the Monchengladbach fans to exchange his gloves for a scarf. But a host of fans of Andre Schubert’s side snatched his gloves, leaving Buffon empty-handed.

As per CalcioNews24, Monchengladbach fans have apologized for the incident at Borussia Park, saying: “We weren’t aware of the sympathy that Buffon has for our club and the behaviour of the fans can’t be understood”

“Buffon is a nice person and we hope to have a good memory for Borussia.”

Buffon proved vital for Juve to hold onto a draw, making some crucial stops after new signing Hernanes was sent off.

[Socrates 8435]

Max Allegri says Juventus goalkeeper
Gigi Buffon is the best of all time

Juventus finally record a commanding win.
Here are Max Allegri's comments after the game.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/8/9691726/max-allegri-says-juventus-goalkeeper-gigi-buffon-is-best-of-all-time

Nov 8, 2015

On the harsh words from keeper and captain Gigi Buffon after the Sassuolo loss, Allegri said:

"Yes, these are the moments when thoughts are turned into words. It's normal that Buffon, who has such a sense of responsibility towards himself and the others, should speak in a certain way.

"But after that we have to take to the pitch and avoid taking victory for granted just because we're Juventus. We must all keep our feet on the ground and win with humility.

"Football is strange, Inter Milan won seven games by 1-0 and we keep taking a goal as soon as somebody shoots.

"Our third goal was on offside? They told me that, yes. It happens. On the whole I think the refereeing was good."

Continuing to speak about Buffon, and the upcoming internaational break -

"I'm lucky enough to coach Buffon. He's the best goalkeeper of all time.

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon: ‘I have no limits’

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/8/9691726/max-allegri-says-juventus-goalkeeper-gigi-buffon-is-best-of-all-time

Nov 9, 2015

Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon says ‘I pose myself no limits’ and wants the Azzurri to have ‘no regrets’ after Euro 2016.

The 37-year-old is set to lead Antonio Conte’s side at next summer’s European championships in France, but believes his ‘fighting spirit’ will see him continue to play for years.

“From here until Euro 2016 I expect a process of growth that must culminate at the tournament itself, with no regrets,” he said at an event for the presentation of the Azzurri's new kit.

“This doesn't mean that we have to win the Euros, but we have to get to the end without leaving anything by the side, giving it everything we've got.

“I've reached a certain age, it's true. But I still have a strong fighting spirit. I couldn't say how far I'm going to get.

“As long as I'll be taking to the pitch with a certain drive, with the desire that I feel in me now, and as long as I'll have a certain physical condition and certain emotions, then I'll keep going.

“I pose myself no limits. Otherwise, I'll be quick to bid everyone farewell.”

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon: ‘Conte teams revolutionised'

http://www.football-italia.net/75553/buffon-%E2%80%98conte-teams-revolutionised

Nov 9, 2015

Italy CT Antonio Conte’s teams are ‘revolutionised and shaken up’ according to Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.

The 37-year-old spoke today at the launch of the Azzurri’s new strip for Euro 2016, discussing his former teammate and Coach at club level.

“Discussing Conte, for me, is easy and not so easy,” Buffon said at the event.

“I've long been his teammate, he was always much older than me.

“Such a long time together, then I had him as a Coach, and now as a Italy CT.

“There are many things that can be said about him, and they are all positive.

“Saying that he's a Coach, someone who instils motivation and a hard worker is all useful. But that's not enough.

“Conte is many things at the same time, and the best synthesis comes from seeing his teams in action, the way they are at first and then after one or two months.

“They're improved, revolutionised, changed, shaken up. That's what a Conte team is.”

[Socrates 8435]

Donnarumma: 'Buffon my idol'

http://www.football-italia.net/75553/buffon-‘conte-teams-revolutionised

Nov 10, 2015

Milan’s 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma celebrates his Under-21 call. “My dream is to follow Gigi Buffon’s footsteps.”

The shot-stopper was a surprise pick from Sinisa Mihajlovic, but his performances – including two clean sheets – bumped Diego Lopez on to the bench.

Now he has received his first Italy call at Under-21 level, by-passing the other youth teams completely.

“I am very happy, I have to keep working and experience this call with humility,” Donnarumma told Sky Sport Italia.

“There is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, but it’s just my personality, I let it slide off me. I try to help my teammates relax and continue along my way.

“My idol is Buffon and my dream is to become first choice goalkeeper for the Nazionale, following in his footsteps. Everyone would love to have a career like his.

“At Milan I train with two great professionals like Diego Lopez and Christian Abbiati, who are helping me to improve so much.”

Many have called Donnarumma a ‘prodigy’ and someone who was always destined for greatness.

“I don’t know about that, but I am keeping my feet firmly on the ground. Clearly it’s great to reach the senior team after just two seasons in the youth sector.

“I want to stay calm and respect everyone, that way I can also have help from everyone. I really need to improve in many areas, but goalkeeping Coach Alfredo Magni is giving me a big hand in this process.”

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon: 'Understand Heysel'

http://www.football-italia.net/75686/buffon-understand-heysel

Nov 12, 2015

Gigi Buffon commemorated the Heysel tragedy and urged fans of all clubs to “understand the gravity of what happened.”

In May 1985 trouble broke out in the stands before a European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus.

A wall collapsed and 39 people died in the crush, most of them Juve supporters.

Italy play Belgium in a friendly tomorrow at the stadium built over the old Heysel, so today Buffon and and Giorgio Chiellini placed flowers at the plaque marking the tragedy.

“We can only try to improve the world so this never happens again, but also educate young people so they understand the gravity of what happened,” said Buffon in a Press conference.

“When fans of other clubs deride the victims of Heysel, it is done out of sheer ignorance and not evil.”

The goalkeeper was also asked to comment on the current Bianconeri form in Serie A.

“I think we have to keep our feet on the ground, as the table says after 12 rounds we are in seventh place and that’s no coincidence.

“We need to take it one game at a time and improve both performances and results. If we go from seventh to sixth to fifth, then we’ll see.”

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon: 'Italy history and present'

http://www.football-italia.net/75687/buffon-italy-history-and-present

Nov 12, 2015

Gigi Buffon can’t wait for Euro 2016, as Italy “have great history and are building a strong present too” ahead of the Belgium friendly.

It kicks off on Friday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT in Brussels.

“We have a great history and are building a strong present too,” said the goalkeeper in his Press conference.

“Belgium are a side we respect, as they are full of talent and almost all of them youngsters who have been playing together for many years thanks to the plans worked out a long time ago.

“They certainly have the potential to be a candidate for the trophy at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

“As for tomorrow’s match, they are on home turf and will do everything possible to make life difficult for us, but it’s important for Italy too and we want to do well in this important test.

“I don’t know if the squad is more united or not than in the past. I will say that when there is a common goal and hard work to perfect movements, this creates a better synchronicity.

“You can have many good lads in a group, but if they don’t know where to go then they can get lost and lose energy on the journey. If someone tells them where to go, obviously it’s simpler.”

Italy and Belgium have both qualified for Euro 2016 and begin preparations for the tournament in earnest.

“It’ll be fascinating with nationalities and flag colours mixing together like last time we had a competition in France in 1998. I was second choice goalkeeper then and didn’t get to play, but I still have wonderful memories of that World Cup.

“I am convinced the Euros will be memorable for the sentiments and I hope the results too.”

[Socrates 8435]

Buffon ready for tough Belgium test

The veteran Juventus goalkeeper was once more key for the Azzurri in sealing
a place in the France finals next year, but is wary of Wilmots' talented youngsters.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/11/12/17263682/-?

Nov 12, 2015

Gianluigi Buffon expects Belgium to provide Italy with a stern test in Brussels as Antonio Conte's side gear up for Euro 2016.

After a brief stutter in the middle of their qualifying campaign, Italy finished Group H strongly to seal top spot by four points from Croatia.

Four successive wins wrapped up the group and booked their place in France next year.

Buffon is confident the current crop of Italian players can go far, but says Marc Wilmots' side, who won Group B, will be a good marker for what is to come in seven months' time.

"Belgium are a side we respect," said the Juventus goalkeeper. "They are full of talent and almost all of them youngsters who have been playing together for many years thanks to the plans worked out a long time ago.

"They certainly have the potential to be a candidate for the trophy at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup."

He added: "As for tomorrow's match, they are on home turf and will do everything possible to make life difficult for us, but it's important for Italy too and we want to do well in this important test.

"I don't know if the squad is more united or not than in the past. I will say that when there is a common goal and hard work to perfect movements, this creates a better synchronicity.

"You can have many good lads in a group, but if they don't know where to go then they can get lost and lose energy on the journey. If someone tells them where to go, obviously it's simpler."

[Socrates 8435]

Gianluigi Buffon's anniversary marked
by the rise of Gianluigi Donnarumma

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/2715341/gianluigi-buffon-passing-baton-to-gianluigi-donnarumma?

Nov 19, 2015

This Friday marks 20 years since Gianluigi Buffon made his debut in Serie A. The time has flown by since that bright winter's day at the Ennio Tardini when Superman fell to Earth and pulled on one of those garish tie-dye goalkeeper's jerseys that are so evocative of the game as it was in the 1990s.

Buffon was 17 years, 9 months and 21 days old. He had Velcroed a pair of gloves to his hands for the first time only five summers earlier and the man responsible for it changed his life forever. Nothing in sport had quite excited him like watching the derring-do of Cameroon goalkeeper Thomas N'Kono in the opening game of Italia '90, and the manner in which he frustrated the holders, Argentina. Out of recognition for N'Kono, Buffon would even name his first son after him.

After Italia '90, Buffon abandoned playing in midfield, where he had styled himself on Marco Tardelli and Nicola Berti, and went between the posts. The son of athletes, both of whom represented Italy (one in the shot put, the other in discus), he had the genes and the upbringing to be an outstanding one himself. Upon finding his calling, he was what they call in Italy a "predestinato" -- destined for greatness.

The poignancy of his 20th anniversary this weekend couldn't be more special. The day after it, Buffon will captain Juventus against Milan at the J Stadium. In Milan's goal will be another Gianluigi, surname: Donnarumma. At 16 years and 8 months, he was younger than Buffon when he made his debut; he also became the youngest goalkeeper of all time to play in Serie A after Gianluca Pacchiarotti in 1980.

Comparisons between the two have been inevitable. Donnarumma started training with Milan's first team back in the spring. Diego Lopez was suspended. Michael Agazzi got injured. There was no one else to act as backup for veteran Christian Abbiati against Cesena, and so a 15-year-old went on the bench. Again, there are echoes of Buffon here.

Invited to train with Parma's first team a year before he made his first senior appearance, Buffon had gone on tour to North America with them. While abroad he drew disapproving glances from coach Nevio Scala, a little like Donnarumma now after his Facebook profile was trawled and anti-Juve and Inter posts were discovered. Advised not to give into the temptation with so much junk food around them, Buffon was caught with an ice cream the size of the torch held by the Statue of Liberty. Told not to mess around in the golf buggies at the team hotel, he took one out for a joy ride and got fined.

Buffon was precocious. He felt ready for the highest level even in his midteens. Upon hearing that his mentor, Ermes Fulgoni, the legendary goalkeeping coach of Parma's academy, had been going around telling anyone who would listen that "this kid will be starting in Serie A by the age of 20," Buffon turned to him and said: "What will I do until then?" He followed his team Carrarese as an ultra. He rode his Vespa along the streets of Parma without a helmet. His timekeeping left a lot to be desired. He was often late for his lift into training.

On the one hand, Buffon's laid-back attitude could be explained by the exuberance of youth. On the other, it could be put down to the self-awareness that his was an immense talent. His chance arrived when Luca Bucci got hurt playing in the Cup Winners' Cup. His backup, Giovanni Galli, had left in frustration at not being given the game time he had been promised in the cup competitions and Alessandro Nista (now Inter's goalkeeping coach) was only just returning from serious injury.

"I knew I would be playing against Milan," Buffon revealed in his autobiography. "Or at least I hoped so. A part of me still couldn't quite believe it. But that week I did some extraordinary things in training ... So that Sunday morning Scala called me and told me I'd be playing."

And how did Buffon react upon hanging up the phone? He was completely relaxed. "My teammates were a little worried. It didn't reassure them at all when I dropped off to sleep on the bus. But that's just how I was." Cool, calm, collected. It's what you want from a goalkeeper, right?

His debut was so spectacular, the whole world soon knew him as Superman. In a top-of-the-table clash Buffon kept a clean sheet. But not just any clean sheet. He denied Stefano Eranio and Roberto Baggio in the first half, Marco Simone and George Weah in the second. He wore No. 12 that day, but as his teammate Fabio Cannavaro once said: "Gigi has No. 1 stamped on his skin." He has a legitimate claim to be considered the greatest of all time.

"He played like a veteran," the commentator on La Domenica Sportiva said in his report that afternoon. The same has been said of Donnarumma.

Last month, Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic took a gamble. Diego Lopez had dropped a few clangers. Christian Abbiati has had his day. So he promoted Donnarumma. The risk for Mihajlovic here was twofold: On the one hand he might unsettle Lopez; on the other he might burn Donnarumma. Make no mistake, this was a baptism of fire.

Milan were 14th and without a win in three games. They were playing their bogey team Sassuolo and facing their bogey man Domenico Berardi. He had scored seven goals in four games against them. A Berardi poker had got Max Allegri the sack. A hat trick had left the writing on the wall for Pippo Inzaghi. Now here was an opportunity to give Silvio Berlusconi a decision to make about Sinisa Mihajlovic. Banners of dissent were strewn across the Curva Sud at San Siro, expressing disappointment with the coach and criticism of chief executive Adriano Galliani.

Still a schoolboy, Donnarumma's legs could be forgiven for trembling, but "everything just slides off me," he revealed at a training camp for Italy's under-21s last week. "Staying calm is my strength even in the most difficult moments of a game. A goalkeeper has to transmit a sense of security to the team. You can't allow yourself to be uncertain. Mentally I'm older than my years. I realised that on my debut. I should have been agitated. But no."

Berardi got the better of him with a free kick, but Milan returned to winning ways and so it didn't really matter. Still, the papers were fairly unforgiving. Donnarumma got 5s in some player ratings and 5.5s in others. "What were you doing when you were 16?" Mihajlovic hit back. For him, Donnarumma was exempt from blame. Juraj Kucka shouldn't have given away the free kick in the first place and there were too many men in the wall.

Mihajlovic continued to put faith in his young goalkeeper and was rewarded three days later, as Donnarumma helped Milan keep their first clean sheet of the season against Chievo. He didn't have much to do and was a little fortunate when a Chievo goal was disallowed in stoppage time for a soft foul on him, but flashes of talent were there. A Neuer-like turn to evade Miroslav Klose then caught the eye against Lazio at the Olimpico. He could have done better to stop Ricardo Kishna's consolation goal, but a Man of the Match performance against Atalanta when he made four big saves and was the difference between drawing and losing left Mihajlovic vindicated. It also left the papers in little doubt about his potential.

At 6-foot-5, he is a man-child. It's frightening to think Donnarumma hasn't stopped growing yet either. The hype around him hasn't slowed either, which is to be expected when you see his entourage. Donnarumma's agent is Mino Raiola, who knows talent when he sees it (he also represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Mario Balotelli), but Donnarumma has let his talent, not Raiola, speak for him.

After he impressed in preseason when he was the hero of a shootout against Real Madrid, thwarting Toni Kroos from the spot, it was thought that the competition for Lopez's place was heating up. Milan's No. 99 (the year of Donnarumma's birth) is now their No. 1, but don't get carried away. Not so long ago Udinese's Simone Scuffet was hailed as the next Buffon. He too made his Serie A debut at a younger age than Buffon. Atleti even wanted him to replace Thibaut Courtois. But he is now on loan at Como. It's a cautionary tale.

In retrospect, Saturday night's game might come to be seen as the passing of the torch. Then again, it might not. Donnarumma says, "My dream is to take Buffon's place and wear the No. 1 shirt for Italy." Patience is needed. But Berlusconi can't help himself. "My successors won't have to spend any money on that position. Donnarumma will be our goalkeeper for the next 20 years."

Nor can Galliani. "I was there when Buffon made his debut all those years ago," he said, "and Donnarumma reminds me of him."

[Socrates 8435]

'You've achieved something special' -
Juventus celebrate 20 years of Buffon

The Italian made his debut in Serie A on November 19, 1995, and has since gone on
to win the league six times and be named goalkeeper of the season a record-smashing nine times.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4160/extra-time/2015/11/19/17477662/-?

Nov 19, 2015

Juventus have marked goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's remarkable 20-year anniversary of his Serie A debut on Twitter.

On November 19, 1995, Parma manager Nevio Scala handed a 17-year-old Buffon his Serie A debut against Fabio Capello's AC Milan. Buffon has not looked back since.

Buffon has now won Serie A six times with Juventus and boasts 154 appearances for Italy, which includes winning the World Cup in 2006.

The 37-year-old has been named Serie A keeper of the year nine times, first in 1999 and most recently in 2014 which, unsurprisingly, is a record with the award having only been handed out 18 times in total.

JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
Today you’ve achieved something special. We’re celebrating your 20 years in SerieA

[Socrates 8435]

Julio Cesar: ‘Buffon is historic’

http://www.football-italia.net/75979/julio-cesar-%E2%80%98buffon-historic%E2%80%99?

Nov 19, 2015

Julio Cesar praises Juventus' Gigi Buffon for showing that goalkeepers can be “the best of the best”.

The Italian played his first Serie A game 20 years ago today for Parma, and has since gone on to play over 750 clubs games, as well as being capped 154 times by the Azzurri.

“To say I appreciate him as a goalkeeper is trivial,” former Inter ‘keeper Cesar told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

“His name is in history, for showing that you can be the best of the best playing in our role. One thing I always liked was going to talk to the opponent after a match.

“We did it several times, and in particular I remember the first time when I told him ‘come on, we’ll do that once Inter beat Juventus’.

“He said ‘ok, and we’ll do it another time if Italy beat Brazil…’”

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus Legend Heaps Praise
On Spanish Goalkeeper

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/juventus-legend-heaps-praise-on-spanish-goalkeeper/?

Nov 19, 2015

Juventus stalwart Gianluigi Buffon has heaped praise on former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas by labelling him as the strongest Spanish goalkeeper in the world.

The 37-year-old revealed that Casillas was the best Spanish goalkeeper he had laid eyes on during his career. In addition, he mentioned the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Walter Zenga as some of the goalkeepers he considered idols during his youth.

“The best Spanish goalkeeper? In the years of my career, I say without a doubt that it is Casillas,” Buffon told Marca.

“From my youth, I say [Peter] Schmeichel, [Walter] Zenga, [Gianluca] Pagliuca and [Andoni] Zubizareta.”

The former Parma player also commended the current crop of goalkeepers such as Arsenal’s Petr Cech, Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and current Napoli number one Pepe Reina.

“During this era, I think Neuer and Cech are doing really well,” he added.

“The best goalkeeper with his feet though is Pepe Reina.”

[Socrates 8435]

Twenty years of Superman: Even at 37,
Gianluigi Buffon is still the gold standard

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/19/9759786/gianluigi-buffon-juventus-parma-serie-a-debut-anniversary-god

Nov 19, 2015

His scruff beard has plenty of gray sprinkled in these days. His boyish good looks have been replaced by the face of a grizzled veteran and is accompanied by a deep, baritone-like voice. Gianluigi Buffon looks every bit of the part of a 37-year-old goalkeeper who has seen just about everything there possibly can be, that's for sure. The one catch: He doesn't play like he's officially in his late-30s, though.

We're officially to the part of Buffon's career where anniversaries become more and more about his insane longevity and also impressive at the same time. We've passed the 150-cap mark with the Italian national team, and, as of Friday, we're going to be at the 20-year milestone since Buffon made his Serie A debut with Parma way back in 1995. Hundreds of thousands of minutes have been played since then. The number of saves that blow your mind are most certainly in the hundreds, too.

He has achieved more than just a few things in a Juventus goalkeeper jersey. He has stayed loyal when others decided not to. He has become the role model to many, even the bane of their existence to others.

We're spoiled as Juventus fans to have such a world-class player hold down an incredibly important position like goalkeeper for such a long period of time. Not many clubs can say they've had a keeper even close to Buffon's caliber be with them for going on what is now nearly 14 years. That's longer than a lot of careers, but for Buffon, we know there's more to come.

All of this from a baby-faced teenager who made his debut against Inter before his 18th birthday. James Horncastle wrote the following in his own Buffon retrospective for ESPNFC on Thursday:

His debut was so spectacular, the whole world soon knew him as Superman. In a top-of-the-table clash Buffon kept a clean sheet. But not just any clean sheet. He denied Stefano Eranio and Roberto Baggio in the first half, Marco Simone and George Weah in the second. He wore No. 12 that day, but as his teammate Fabio Cannavaro once said: "Gigi has No. 1 stamped on his skin." He has a legitimate claim to be considered the greatest of all time.

Yep, it was the start of something truly special. The goalkeeper position officially got its first glimpse at the next big thing. Nobody probably could have predicted that he'd still be one of the best 20 years later, but, as Cannavaro pointed out, they knew the then-17-year-old Buffon was on the cusp of being regarded as 'San Gigi' on the regular.

A lot will be made of the Old Gigi vs. Young Gigi battle in goal this weekend when Juventus hosts Milan in Turin. The timing of it is rather convenient seeing as it will be a day after Buffon's 20-year anniversary. Both were teenagers when they made their debuts in Italy's top flights — Buffon at 17 years old, Donnarumma all of 16 years old. The hype will be about how one is the next in line to replace the other, and we know which is which in this case.

We know it's only natural for the Italian press to ramp up the hype machine a few levels above normal knowing that the all-Gigi goalkeeper battle is about to go down at Juventus Stadium this weekend. Gigi Donnarumma is the latest of a herd of young Italian goalkeepers to be tabbed as the heir to Buffon's longstanding throne. And, as is also natural, Buffon only has so many years left because he can't go on forever as much as we hope that was the case. Taking part in the 2018 World Cup in Russia is his goal — which would mean he'd be the first player ever to take part in six World Cup tournaments — as is playing at the same godly level he is at the age of 37.

He's talented, obviously, but we don't know what kind of goalkeeper Donnarumma will be in five or 10 years from now. The initial signs are more than just pretty okay. But as we know, keepers are a rare and interesting breed. But we do know what the elder Gigi in the all-Gigi showdown is all about. And we've known it for a long time. That's something we'll never forget.

There will be more anniversaries to celebrate. More saves to get up a scream happy kinds of cuss words all about the living room. Just more Gigi being Gigi — which is never a bad thing.