Buffon sets sights on main prize
Football is in chaos back home but Italy's players will not be diverted from their quest for World Cup glory.
That was the pledge by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after the Azzurri's magnificent performance saw them beat Germany with two goals late in extra-time to advance to the final.
"We are playing in the biggest world competition and the match-fixing scandal has never distracted us from our goal," said Buffon, whose club side Juventus is at the centre of a Serie A investigation which has shaken an entire nation.
Prosecutors on Tuesday called for Juve to be dropped into Serie C with an additional six-point deduction and also asked for Fiorentina, AC Milan and Lazio to be relegated.
"We expect the Juventus sentence," admitted Buffon, who in all probability will leave the Turin giants if they are severely punished.
There will be plenty of clubs interested in Buffon if he does go on the market, especially if he and Italy have another incredible performance in the title game.
Many would have expected the Italians to primarily defend and try to hit the Germans on the counter.
But Marcello Lippi's men attacked from the off and, much to the relief of Buffon, avoided a penalty shoot-out as Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero scored the late double.
"We are aware of the significance of this win but there is still one game left and if we win it, it would be even more amazing that what we are experiencing now," Buffon said.
"I think it was destiny. I think if we hadn't scored and the game had gone to penalties, we would have lost.
"To have waited until the 118th minute to score a goal means it could have gone the other way."
Buffon did not want to experience the type of nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out which saw Juventus lose to AC Milan in the final of the Champions League in 2003.
"Forgive my selfishness, but I thought more about myself than about those who were on the pitch with me," Buffon said.
"We have given a brave performance, we have suffered but we haven't conceded much. We have played away from home and it wasn't easy."
The Italians were exhausted after their victory and could end up facing France, who beat them in the Euro 2000 final, or Portugal.
"We don't mind who we face next," Buffon said.
"I just hope whoever plays against us will be tired. The final surely cannot be as difficult as this game was tonight."
Soccer365
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