The Footy Section@FTBLsection
Gianluigi Buffon:
“For twenty years we’ve been ashamed of who we are. For twenty years, I’ve felt like we have to play like Spain — we’ve abandoned our history. And because of that, talent has disappeared. Players like Ciro Ferrara, Fabio Cannavaro… today we’d be embarrassed to put them on the pitch. Chiellini wouldn’t play today because he doesn’t play line-breaking passes. You watch Barcelona and pay for a ticket, but thinking we can play with a high line in midfield for ninety minutes…
Italy’s historic matches were built on defending to the death, on team containment, on the cohesion of the result. Now it seems like we’re uncomfortable with that — otherwise, we won’t be accepted into football’s high society. I want to go out there to try and win, and there’s no shame in doing it with your own strengths.”