Italy talisman Gianluigi Buffon says not being among the favourites to win Euro 2016 means that the Azzurri are approaching the June 10-July 10 tournament in France with a sense of humility but a steely resolve to have their say. Kevin Azzopardi spoke to the Italy and Juventus goalkeeper.
At 38, Gianluigi Buffon is in the home stretch of a stellar career that has already seen him become the most capped player in the entire history of the Italian national team, not to mention his achievements for Juventus, but the outstanding goalkeeper is not prepared to sit on his laurels.
His longevity and enduring brilliance mean that Italy head into this year’s European Championship with their hopes resting on Buffon’s broad shoulders and the defensive acumen of three of his Juventus team-mates, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
Buoyed by another excellent campaign that saw the Bianconeri make history after becoming the first Serie A club to secure a Scudetto and Coppa Italia double for the second year running, Buffon hopes that the confidence and winning mentality of the Juve legion rub off on their international team-mates.
“At this moment, we are six from Juventus and therefore I understand that there may be talk of a ‘Juventus block’, moreso as far as the defence is concerned if, as your media colleagues in Italy are writing, we are going to play with the three-man module,” Buffon said.
“That said, given that in the group we are among the most experienced players, we will be looking to put at the disposal of our team-mates all the positive factors that can be derived from a season as rich in success as the one just concluded.”
Four years ago, Italy, then under the stewardship of Cesare Prandelli, defied expectations by making it all the way to the final of the European Championship, staged in Poland and Ukraine, only to go down 4-0 to Spain in the decisive showdown.
Since then, the Azzurri’s progress in international football has been an up-and-down affair.
They breezed through qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 but faltered in Brazil two years ago, failing to advance past the group stage, and their performances in friendly games since sealing their trip to France have been anything but convincing, including last week’s 1-0 win over Scotland in Malta.
In that edition (Euro 2012), we were a step away from winning it but I remember that at the start of the tournament no-one had placed us among the favourites. This was due to the fact that, like today, we were coming from a bad experience in the World Cup. Without looking too far backwards, I can nonetheless say that we are a very united group who, with humility, sacrifice and a good technical-tactical preparation, can also have its say in France
While many things have inevitably changed since their appearance in the Euro 2012 final, Buffon sees a lot of similarities between the team’s situation then and now.
“With regards to 2012, certainly many things have changed, first and foremost some team-mates in the squad as well as the coach (Antonio Conte),” Buffon commented.
“In that edition, we were a step away from winning it but I remember that at the start of the tournament no-one had placed us among the favourites.
“This was due to the fact that, like today, we were coming from a bad experience in the World Cup. Without looking too far backwards, I can nonetheless say that we are a very united group who, with humility, sacrifice and a good technical-tactical preparation, can also have its say in France.”
Italy, who are in a tough-looking Group E with Belgium, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland, are not being talked of in the same breath as the likes of France, Spain and Germany.
Buffon reckons the low expectations could be a blessing in disguise but was quick to stress that a strong footballing nation like Italy must always aim high.
“Sometimes, starting with the lights off can be an advantage, but a nation like ours always has the duty to go as far as possible and the pressure on us, in spite of departing behind compared to the teams you have mentioned (France, Germany and Spain), is always very high,” the former Parma custodian observed.
“In the Euros, you can play a maximum of seven games and in such a short period of time, you can discover alchemies you perhaps don’t think of possessing at the outset.”
Beyond the customary forecasts and predictions, Italy are one of those teams that can never be written off in big tournaments.
Buffon has not set a specific target for Italy, publicly at least, but insisted that the main thing is to give their all to the cause.
“The target is that of having no regrets when we return home, hoping obviously that this happens as late as possible (during the tournament),” Buffon remarked.
As for the fact that this could be my last important tournament, I can’t answer because, for sure, at this moment I’m only concentrating on these Euros, but like I’ve said many times in other interviews, as long as I feel well, useful to the cause and motivated like I am now, I won’t think about stopping to play football
“We are going there with a sense of caution and humbleness but, at the same time, we shouldn’t stop dreaming.”
France, Spain and Germany are the top favourites to win Euro 2016 in Buffon’s eyes but he also envisages a good tournament for a host of other nations.
“Let’s say that France, who play at home, must certainly be ranked among the favourites,” the Italy goalkeeper said.
“Next, apart from the recent winners of the Euros and the World Cup, Spain and Germany, also Belgium, England and Portugal.”
Given that Buffon will be 40 by the time the next World Cup gets underway in Russia in 2018, there have been whispers that this could be his last major tournament but the towering goalkeeper has repeatedly brushed off talk of retirement as his intention is to keep playing until his body tells him to stop.
“It’s obvious that, going into such a prestigious tournament, one always starts with the objective of winning but like I said, I will be happy if, at its conclusion, I don’t have any regrets,” Buffon said.
“As for the fact that this could be my last important tournament, I can’t answer because, for sure, at this moment I’m only concentrating on these Euros, but like I’ve said many times in other interviews, as long as I feel well, useful to the cause and motivated like I am now, I won’t think about stopping to play football.”
Stepping into the shoes of a world-class goalkeeper like Buffon who has been his country’s undisputed no.1 for more than two decades, constitutes a massive task for any nation but Italy has a tradition of producing top custodians.
Buffon believes Italy’s future is in safe hands.
“Fortunately, in terms of goalkeepers, Italian football remains one of the best in the world,” Buffon replied when asked to anoint his heir apparent.
“It’s never easy to mention names but if I had to judge by who is wearing the Azzurri (blue) shirt in our various representative teams I would say (Mattia) Perin, (Gianluigi) Donnarumma and (Alex) Meret who has been training with us at Coverciano.”
While Buffon is devoting all his energies and attention to the upcoming Euros, he remains pivotal to Juve’s quest to extend their domestic dominance and make inroads in European football after signing a new two-year deal last month.
After reaching the final of the Champions League last year, going down 3-1 to Barcelona in Berlin, Juventus suffered a heartbreaking exit from this year’s competition after going out to Bayern Munich following extra-time in the Last 16 round.
Buffon has no doubts that Juventus are not far from competing on a par with the continent’s heavyweights, the likes of Real Madrid, who were crowned European champions for the 11th time in Milan on May 28, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“Certainly, last year’s final and this season’s games against Bayern Munich made us realise that we are on the right track to close the gap with the top European clubs,” Buffon said.
“Then, the club knows well where they have to intervene to continue strengthening our squad and ultimately, as in every manifestation, you also need a slice of luck…”