Italy’s upcoming friendly against Uruguay will represent an important milestone for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, as he will equal legendary keeper Dino Zoff’s 112 appearances for the Azzurri.
The 1982 World Cup winner says he always knew Buffon would make a great shot-stopper from his early days as a 19-year-old at Parma.
“It was obvious that Gigi had extraordinary qualities,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “but when you see a young player like that play his first match, you can’t imagine whether or not he will reach 100 appearences with the national team.”
Zoff however believes Buffon has yet to equal him in terms of performances: “I don’t think he will reach me [laughs], but he will beat my record of appearences. It means I will have to make do with the record of consecutive appearences with Juventus: 330. That will be very hard to beat.”
On the current Azzurri team preparing for Euro 2012, he said: “I’m sure they can finish in the top four, and with a bit of luck they could also win it. We always play to go far, even though sometimes we do very poorly like at the last World Cup.
“Is [Italy coach Cesare] Prandelli a better coach than he was a player? I hope he is, otherwise we won’t go far… [laughs]. No, I’m sure he is already better. At the time, he was too young to make predictions for the future.”
Prandelli used to play for Juventus between 1979 and 1985, when Zoff also played for La Vecchia Signora.
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This article was originally posted by Danilo Pochini
Buffon at 17 looked like the best keeper on the planet and is now the most important player for the Azzurri. Look at Italy without him in the last world cup, like Destiny Child’s first album – the writing was on the wall! For me the best keeper the world has seen!
Both keepers have done so much to the Azzuri and the the Turin
Its really tough to decide
But id say buffon is better
he is breakin zoff’s records with italy and juve!therefore
FORZA ZOFF
FORZA BUFFON <3