Buffon reflects on Italian football: “We’ve been ashamed of who we are for 20 years.”
The goalkeeper believes that Italy must return to the hallmarks that made it strong.
Gianluigi Buffon defended traditional Italian football in a statement to Sky Sports . The goalkeeper acknowledged the beauty of the Spanish national team and Barcelona’s play , but believes Italy cannot play with that style of high defense and should opt for a strong defense, which he believes has always served Italian teams well.
“We’ve been ashamed of who we are for twenty years. For twenty years I’ve felt we have to play like Spain; we’ve given up on our history. And talent disappears because of that. Players like Ferrara or Cannavaro would be embarrassed to put on the pitch today . Chiellini wouldn’t play today because he doesn’t have a through ball,” the legendary goalkeeper noted.
” You go to Barcelona and pay the ticket, but to think we can play with a high midfield defense for ninety minutes… Italy’s historic matches are based on defending to the death, on containing the team, on the cohesion of the result. Now it seems we’re uncomfortable, otherwise we wouldn’t be accepted into the high society of football. I want to go out on the pitch to try to win, and there’s no shame in doing that with your own abilities ,” Buffon added.
He also addressed Italy’s qualification for the next World Cup, after the Azzurri missed the last two, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. “There’s great expectation, a bit of curiosity, and the certainty that this is our only objective, the only thing to think about in the next six months. We want to qualify, no ifs, ands, or buts,” he said.
