Gianluigi Buffon (109 Viewers)

[Dostoevsky]

Buffon: Go easy on Dida

Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon has spoken in defence of under-fire Milan counterpart Nelson Dida and backs Alessandro Del Piero.

Dida is facing a UEFA probe after his dramatic reaction to a blow from a fan who invaded the pitch during the Rossoneri’s humiliating Champions League defeat at Celtic.

While many voices in the peninsula and beyond have been raised in condemnation of the Brazilian’s actions, Buffon believes UEFA should show leniency.

“In my opinion it all came down to one minute of confusion and then Dida already regretted what had happened,” the Azzurri custodian stated.

“I don’t know how FIFA or UEFA’s justice system operates and I don’t have any idea what action will be taken, but there is no need to crucify him.”

Buffon also gave his support to beleaguered teammate Alessandro Del Piero, who was let out of the Italy squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifier against Georgia.

“We have spoken and he isn’t on top of the world,” the ex-Parma man confirmed. “But we just have to remember all that he has given.”

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[Marc]

Im surprised he made it but I am not complaining!

Puyol, Ronaldinho and Cannavaro don´t deserve to be there imo.

 

[Geof]

After the Fiorentina game, Gigi hide himself in the trunk of his car to leave the stadium safely, he declared.

He also said that after the Parma-Fiorentina Coppa final return match in 1999, he disguised himself as a clown to be able to walk through the crowd.

 

[Agon]

Buffon in the running for FIFA World Player award

Gianluigi Buffon is among the 30 footballers short-listed for the prestigious 2007 edition of the “FIFA World Player” award, given out by the World Federation to the year's best player. Juventus' 'keeper is in a list that includes other four Italians: Cannavaro (who won last year), Gattuso, Nesta and Pirlo.

The National teams' Managers and Captains will decide the winner, to be announced on the 17th of December. This will be the 16th edition of the award; three Juventus players have already won in the past. The first was Roberto Baggio in 1993, then Zinedine Zidane (in 1998 and 2000; the Frenchman also won in 2003) and Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 (he'd played the first six months of the year for Juve before moving to Real Madrid).

Juventus.com

 

[Dostoevsky]

Gigi: Give youth a chance

Juventus custodian Gigi Buffon has hit out at the lack of opportunities for Italian goalkeepers in Serie A.

The talented shot-stopper believes that the giants’ dependence on foreign custodians is a problem for his Italian colleagues.

“They say that there is a lack of quality homegrown goalkeepers, but I don’t feel alone,” Buffon told La Stampa.

“There are excellent resources and Marco Amelia and Gianluca Curci, for example, have fantastic potential.

“The problem is the management of this talent. Curci wanted to leave Roma so that he could play more, but they wouldn’t let him.”

Buffon was thrown in at the deep end at Parma where he became their regular No 1 at the tender age of 18, but he feels he was the exception to the rule.

“I was lucky that when I was 18-years-old I asked to leave Parma to play first-team football, but they just gave me a starting place instead,” he admitted.

“We expect youngsters to be phenomenal immediately, but compared to 30 or 40 years ago it is much harder now as there are always foreign options.

“Alexander Doni started badly at Roma, but he was never given chances and has become a good 'keeper.

“In the same way Fernando Muslera was humiliated for Lazio, but has been able to forget the 5-1 against Milan in a way that an Italian maybe couldn’t have.”

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Del Piero Is Irreplaceable - Buffon

The Juventus captain must still renew his contract with the Old Lady, but things seem to have stalled in the past few weeks, with various other options being taken into consideration by Pinturicchio.

Gigi Buffon gave his opinion on the current Alessandro Del Piero issue with regards to the contract renewal and also the omission from the national team.

"He sounds a bit disappointed," admitted the Juventus goalkeeper. "I think that Ale has certain expectations, for a thousand reasons, and for what he represents for this club.

"But even the club, from its point of view, has many reasons for doing so," continued Buffon.

"It's not a simple situation, but I think that in the end it will not remain stalled. Del Piero is irreplaceable for what he represents on and off the pitch."

Del Piero was also left out of the initial formation against Fiorentina.

"Ranieri must take his decisions. It's clear that there will be someone who will not be happy. However Ale had always played from the start and to give him a rest the coach let Iaquinta play. It can happen."

goal.com

 

[Red]

Gigi to captain Italy for the next couple of games. :thumbs:

 

[Dostoevsky]

Superman Returns

He is widely regarded by many as the best goalkeeper in the world and Gianluigi Buffon does justice to that tag more often than not. Buffon nicknamed the superman has done it all, a veteran at his trade at only 29, Buffon is already a World Cup winner with Italy & has various other domestic trophies to his credit.

Buffon joined Juventus from Parma for a world -record fee for a goalkeeper of around 32m pounds, since then he has repaid the faith showed by the Juve directors by putting in stellar performances throughout the years. On 12th May 2006, Buffon was implicated along with many other players as participants on illegal betting on Serie A matches; this marked a definite low point in his career.

This incident put a question mark on Buffon’s availability for the national team in the2006 World Cup. But Buffon’s name was cleared of all charges by the FIGC or the Italian Football Federation; subsequently he was officially named as Italy’s starting goalkeeper by the Marcelo Lippi led side.

In the World Cup, Buffon didn’t concede a single goal from open play barring an own goal by teammate Cristian Zaccardo in the game against the United States. Buffon kept seven clean sheets along with a 453 minute shutout streak which helped him win the coveted Yashin award given to the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

It’s difficult to judge a goalkeeper only on the number of clean sheets he conjures up because the whole team plays a part in that, but what Buffon managed to pull off in the World Cup was nothing short of astounding. Very often real pressure situations brought the best out of Buffon, case in point the world class save that he managed to pull off in the final vs. France in the dying minutes of the game, when he saved a rocket header from the former French captain Zinedine Zidane.

Buffon was plagued by injuries in the 2005-2006 season when he collided with A.C Milan midfielder Ricardo Kaka & dislocated his shoulder in the annual Luigi Berlusconi trophy. He went under the knife and returned three months later, only to fall prey to another injury which ruled him out until January 2006.

But he returned in time to help Juventus lift their second consecutive Scudetto which was later on taken back by the FIGC because of the Italian match fixing scandal. Juventus were eventually relegated to serie B and given a 9 points penalty.

Buffon showed his commitment towards Juventus by sticking with them even though Juve were relegated to Serie B, his loyalty towards the club was amplified further because he was a world champion & it’s not becoming of a world champion to ply his trade in Serie B.

Now after a year long absence Superman returns to grace the hallowed turfs of the Serie A. Juventus have had a relatively solid start to the season so far, starting well against Cagliari and their last game ended in a creditable draw against Fiorentina in Florence with only a home loss against Udinese spoiling the picture.

Buffon marshaled a relatively inexperienced Azzurri defense in the crucial Euro ’08 qualifier against Georgia. Buffon has also expressed his delight at being named the captain of the Azzurri in the absence of the suspended Fabio Cannavaro.

“It is an achievement after ten years with the Azzurri," said Buffon "I hope to carry on playing international football for a long time. I don't think I'll keep going until I'm 40, but when people talk about the need to bring through a new generation of players, I don't think they're talking about me.”

Buffon is undoubtedly the number one goalkeeper in the world and for the time being, there is no one else to displace him from that pedestal. After an ignominious season with Juventus in serie B it’s an absolute pleasure to watch the superman fly again.

goal.com

 

[chester]

After an ignominious season with Juventus in serie B it’s an absolute pleasure to watch the superman fly again.

It sure is.

Great article Dule.

 

[Turk_Bianconero]

Best Goalkeeper of all times

 

[joe5]

Best Goalkeeper of all times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmPdFBHyhnI&mode=related&search=

Without any doubt. Great Video

 

[joe5]

Superman Returns

Buffon is undoubtedly the number one goalkeeper in the world and for the time being, there is no one else to displace him from that pedestal. After an ignominious season with Juventus in serie B it’s an absolute pleasure to watch the superman fly again.

goal.com

He is best Goalkeeper of this decate and maybe is the best goalkeeper of all Juve history after Dino Zoff. Forza Buffon.

 

[JuveAdam]

Better than Zoff.

forza Gigi.

 

[Lion]

I don't know if he is the best goalie ever but he still has time at his side to prove that. 29 is a good age for a goalie and he I can see him going strong for atleast another 5-6 years. more than enough to prove that claim.

 

[Red]

He will need to win a Champions League and a World Player of the Year Award before he retires to be viewed by non-juve fans as the best ever.

 

[ZAF3000]

I've just finished watching highlisghts of Italy's world cup 2006 games.. Gigi saved alot.... LITERALLY ALOT. In each game he saved at least 3 or 4 impossible saves.

 

[Bisco]

I've just finished watching highlisghts of Italy's world cup 2006 games.. Gigi saved alot.... LITERALLY ALOT. Each game he ends up saving 3 or 4 impossible saves.

buffon is the best goal keeper in the world!! i dont think any goalie today matches to his ability when it comes to making crucial saves.

forzaaaaaa gigi!!!!!!!

 

[Elvin]

Let's try not to jinx him, ok?

 

[JuveAdam]

He will need to win a Champions League and a World Player of the Year Award before he retires to be viewed by non-juve fans as the best ever.

Zoff never won European Cup! Neither did Lev Yashin or Gordon Banks.

Zoff, in a career spanning 22 years won 6 Scudetti, 2 Coppa Italia, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 WC & 1 EC. Compare that with Gigi (at 29) with 2 Serie A - +2 revoked & 1 Serie B, 1 Italian Cup, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 WC & an U21 EC.

 

[Red]

Zoff never won European Cup! Neither did Lev Yashin or Gordon Banks.

Zoff, in a career spanning 22 years won 6 Scudetti, 2 Coppa Italia, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 WC & 1 EC. Compare that with Gigi (at 29) with 2 Serie A - +2 revoked & 1 Serie B, 1 Italian Cup, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 WC & an U21 EC.

And Gigi needs to do more than them to be the best.

 

[Turk_Bianconero]

Zoff never won European Cup! Neither did Lev Yashin or Gordon Banks.

Zoff, in a career spanning 22 years won 6 Scudetti, 2 Coppa Italia, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 WC & 1 EC. Compare that with Gigi (at 29) with 2 Serie A - +2 revoked & 1 Serie B, 1 Italian Cup, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 WC & an U21 EC.

Buffon won 4 Scudetti in 5 years.sounds promising