Gigi Buffonhistorical flag of the Italian national team and world champion in 2006, spoke during “Radio Anch’io lo Sport” on Rai Radio1:
How was the start of this World Cup?
“It’s strange because clearly the emotional participation is usually very high, while in this case it isn’t. I didn’t understand if this was caused by Italy’s absence or if it is the fault of the lack of media coverage due to the fact that the games are being played in winter in the middle of the championships. The ceremony was beautiful. The match was a little more disappointing, I expected more from Qatar. However, I think that making another reflection on their match, they were conditioned by responsibility. In my opinion they are stronger than to what we saw yesterday. Not being used to playing certain events, with a full stadium, may have conditioned them”.
Would you have preferred to lose the European Championship and play in the World Cup?
“It depends at what age. At 40 I probably would have preferred to win the European Championship because I wouldn’t have had any other chance of winning it. If I had been younger, participation in the World Cup is something you wouldn’t trade for anything.”
You play in the box but you don’t score much, what do you think?
“In my opinion it depends a lot on the fact that finally a little less penalties are called. In the last two years, every ball that was touched by a hand was immediately sanctioned. This year the evaluations are different and fair, because they are part of the regulation “As far as the game is concerned, we cannot distort our DNA which is very tactical. The aspect is a particular attention to not putting the opponents in a position to score.”
How are you?
“I’m fine, last month I had a bad injury that will keep me out for another twenty days. The injury has reduced a lot and I think that by mid-December I will be able to rejoin the team. There is a need to give a good pushed from January until May but the team is doing well”.
You will support Cameroon, why?
“I’ve always supported them as a second team, since the ’82 World Cup to then find this consecration in ’90 when it was the real surprise of the Italian World Cup. There have been several players who have entered my heart, I know the whole pink 1990 from memory”.
Today there is a lot of talk about human rights linked to Qatar, with Iran which could take sensational initiatives against what is happening in Tehran, what do you think?
“I consider Iran’s presence to be very right because sport must be meritocratic and they deserved this opportunity on the field. If this participation also becomes a way to also send signals of collective humanity, so be it. Long live the courage of Iran’s players”.
Do you think Juventus can come back?
“Juve, in my opinion, when the championship restarts, will be a team to keep an eye on because with the full squad, Juve can be scary. Now talking about a comeback in the championship seems out of place to me, because to give way they should two difficult things happen: the first is that Juve give continuity to their latest results, the other is that Napoli get stuck and seeing Spalletti’s team in the first 4-5 months they seem like a perfect machine. being in these positions plays a fundamental role. But I think that in Spalletti’s head and in that of his players there is a joy that I haven’t seen other times.”
What happened to the Italian goalkeepers who have recently flourished again?
“Two things have happened: the first is that they have given Italian goalkeepers the opportunity to play and make mistakes without being immediately set aside. The second is that the fact that some of these, like Vicario or Provedel, have also grown in age and have found the maturity that justifies the role they are playing in their respective teams and the media consideration. Vicario is doing things out of the ordinary. Provedel is having a season of incredible linearity with a very high yield. Then there is also Meret who is doing an exceptional season in Naples together with the team and now Carnesecchi is also back and he must be taken into consideration because he has champion shots. The reservoir of Italian goalkeepers is important”.
If France have to do without Benzema, will Portugal be able to bet on Cristiano Ronaldo?
“I won’t go into details because in the details of relationships you really need to know every type of dynamic, I’m going to focus on the sporting ones and I can say that someone like Cristiano has the ability and that sporting rage, that champion’s pride that will allow him to find a space as a protagonist also in this World Cup. He has been thinking about this World Cup for some time and being a very concrete person who thrives on these challenges, I think Cristiano should be taken with a grain of salt when there are these competitions.”
Mancini’s national team seen last night?
“You can’t make a judgment on the basis of the match against Austria. As we know, we’ve never excelled when playing friendly matches. The coach wanted to make some tests with a view to the future and for this reason giving judgments that are too negative would be completely misleading”.
