Buffon

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Strange days for Gianluigi Buffon. On Wednesday night the best goalkeeper around will stride out in the Stade de France and come eye to eye with the team he defied at the World Cup final two months ago. Come Saturday, he will begin domestic duties in Rimini. The coastal town boasts a minor club, which narrowly avoided relegation to Italy's third division last season, and 3,396 season-ticket holders. Their stadium, the Romeo Neri, features a scratchy athletics track and a couple of small, rickety uncovered stands plonked behind the goals. It could be worse. Juventus's road trip around Serie B this season also includes such luminaries as Crotone, Albinoleffe and Frosinone.

 

Buffon is the only member of the Italy squad still with Juventus. Is he crazy? While the mass exodus sparked by scandal-induced relegation went on around him this summer, he decided he was happy to spend his prime years in Serie B. No matter that he was voted the top keeper at the World Cup. 'Everyone had to make their own decisions,' he said. 'It seemed right to stay with the club as a sign of respect for the way the club has treated me.'

That Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram, Gianluca Zambrotta, Emerson, Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic felt no such sentiments does not make Buffon's loyalty much easier to comprehend. Of the major stayers Mauro Camoranesi has flirted shamelessly with anyone and everyone who might fling him a life-belt, while Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved are veterans winding down their careers. Buffon is 28 years old, at the peak of his powers, and has willingly volunteered to restrict himself to just a handful of big matches this season with the Azzurri

 

None is bigger than this rerun of the World Cup final. For so many of the protagonists, life has changed considerably since Berlin. Fabio Grosso, the leggy full-back whose 15 minutes of fame arrived in front of an audience of millions worldwide, is now one of Inter's star signings. Coach Marcello Lippi is enjoying a sabbatical. Zinedine Zidane lives a quieter life, able to take his kids to school and go to the Madonna concert in Paris. Fabien Barthez has been spending a lot of time in Toulouse looking after his sick mother and is without a club.

 

For some of the protagonists not so much has changed. Raymond Domenech is still getting up everybody's nose. He is persona non grata at Arsenal for overplaying Henry in friendlies and at Chelsea for threatening Claude Makelele with a Fifa-endorsed club ban because he wants to retire from les Blues

 

What a contrast: Makelele would prefer not to play for France because of the high level of his club commitments. Buffon adores playing for Italy because of the low level of his club commitments. 'The national team is always a top priority, although this year it becomes even more important,' he explained. 'It will be a way for me to keep showing myself on the international stage.'

 

Italy are adjusting to life under Roberto Donadoni. The atmosphere is more tranquil than when Lippi called the shots - perhaps too tranquil, according to some critics. The new coach has omitted nine of the group who conquered all in Germany, although two of the absent defenders were enforced changes. Alessandro Nesta is not fit, and Marco Materazzi is banned for his role in the infamous Zidane butt. The selection of Antonio Cassano means there is no guarantee this Italy-France encounter will pass without incident.

 

The Juventus team in front of Buffon at the Stadio Romeo Neri will bear little resemblance to the side that topped Serie A last May until the Calciopoli investigation scratched their title out of the record books. Last week Juve withdrew their appeal through the civil courts and will make one call for clemency via the court of arbitration. But they are pretty much resigned to their fate.

 

Making up their 17-point penalty in Serie B is not going to be made any easier by the club's infamy. 'Everyone wants to play the game of their life against Juve,' reckons new coach Didier Deschamps.

 

For Buffon, that means hours in front of the video. 'I'm going to have to start studying again,' he says. 'I know by heart the power of Adriano's left foot, Luca Toni's movements and Pippo Inzaghi's dummies, but I'm in the dark when it comes to many of the current Serie B strikers. I'll try to learn fast, though.'

 

He might be crazy. But it is an admirable kind of crazy.

 

Could cost him in the long-run mind

[Guest Cameron]

He should leave. He does not owe Juve any loyalty anymore. His dodgy employers have ruined the club and if he sticks with them, his own career will suffer. He will spend at least 2 seasons in Serie B, that's just crazy considering he's the best 'keeper anywhere.

[growler]

17 points isn't insurmountable. they could concievably scrape into Serie A next season.

 

Also, I can see them going all out for a cup, and getting into the UEFA cup.

[Maldini]

Doesn't he have close ties to the Italian neo-Nazi movement?

[Guest TanMan]

Doesn't he have close ties to the Italian neo-Nazi movement?

 

Who doesn't?

[Gilps]

Doesn't he have close ties to the Italian neo-Nazi movement?

 

Now, now. That was just a 'misunderstanding' about a request for an eccentric squad number.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

|Buffon is a cheating c*** the same as the rest of the cheating juventus c****.

And Inter have never soiled their hands.

[BigBird]

Now, now. That was just a 'misunderstanding' about a request for an eccentric squad number.

 

 

I understood that Buffon played with the number 88 on his shirt in his early days and is still an active member of an organisation that promotes keeping Italian football and the Italian team ?White?.

 

I read that in some Lads-Mag in my barbers.

Correct me if I?m wrong.

[DazzlaJ]

I understood that Buffon played with the number 88 on his shirt in his early days and is still an active member of an organisation that promotes keeping Italian football and the Italian team ?White?.

 

I read that in some Lads-Mag in my barbers.

Correct me if I?m wrong.

 

WRONG!

 

You was in the Cafe havng Beans on Toast

[Gilps]

I understood that Buffon played with the number 88 on his shirt in his early days and is still an active member of an organisation that promotes keeping Italian football and the Italian team ?White?.

 

I read that in some Lads-Mag in my barbers.

Correct me if I?m wrong.

 

He requested the 88 shirt, wasn't allowed to wear it and later claimed it was all a misunderstanding and that he didn't know of its fascist connotations.

 

He has been photographed more than once in t-shirts displaying quotes from Mussolini and has expressed sympathy for some statements from the Northern League (a far right party).

[BigBird]

He requested the 88 shirt, wasn't allowed to wear it and later claimed it was all a misunderstanding and that he didn't know of its fascist connotations.

 

He has been photographed more than once in t-shirts displaying quotes from Mussolini and has expressed sympathy for some statements from the Northern League (a far right party).

 

Cheers gilps, nice one.

[Guest Cardie]

|Buffon is a cheating c*** the same as the rest of the cheating juventus c****.

 

Inter have bought 2 of those players and were interested in 3 or 4 more.

[stressederic]

And Inter have never soiled their hands.

 

Sini?a Mihajlović. Nuff said.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

1965 ECSF and all that

[Guest Cameron]

I understood that Buffon played with the number 88 on his shirt in his early days and is still an active member of an organisation that promotes keeping Italian football and the Italian team ?White?.

 

I read that in some Lads-Mag in my barbers.

Correct me if I?m wrong.

If that's truly the case, why did he hang around at Juve with the number of black footballers they have? (or had, before they began selling them after their relegation)

[Hassony]

If that's truly the case, why did he hang around at Juve with the number of black footballers they have? (or had, before they began selling them after their relegation)

he is not against black players, he just doesn't want them in the italian team

[stressederic]

he is not against black players, he just doesn't want them in the italian team

 

Which is far more enlightened.

[matty]

Inter have bought 2 of those players and were interested in 3 or 4 more.

 

There is more joy in heaven over a sinner that repenteth...

[smithdown]

There is more joy in heaven over a sinner that repenteth...

 

 

Aint that the truth.