Germany have never beaten Italy in the knockout stage of a competition, but that fact isn’t making goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon any less concerned about their clash.
The Azzurri play Die Mannschaft in Bordeaux on Saturday night for a place in the semi-final of Euro 2016 against either France or Iceland, and Italy captain Buffon believes the current world champions are still a very tough side to come up against.
“Germany are scary, they are stronger on paper, but surprises can happen on the field,” the 38-year-old told the press.
“It’s true that among us there are no superstars, but there is a lot of desire to overcome our limitations, so I say that Germany is scary but we are Italy, the ones that never give up.”
There have been questions raised over Buffon’s future in the Italy side, with retirement an expected possibility at the end of the 2018 World Cup, but despite having a world cup winner’s medal to his name, he still wants to achieve more.
“I’ve had a great and very consistent career, but I’m not willing to settle for it,” Buffon said.
“I am still not happy with what I have done.”
