Italy: "we're not useless," Gianluigi Buffon

Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup in the last three editions. Since their 2006 triumph, they have never made it past the group stage, and the Azzurri are mired in a deep results crisis. Gianluigi Buffon knows it all too well.

In his interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gianluigi Buffon explained that the Nazionale is not a bad team. In his view, the national squad simply failed to adapt to the changes football has undergone in the past 20 years.

"Of course not, we're not useless. We have important, talented players, even in the Premier League. We're just pretending not to understand that football has been turned upside down in the last twenty years. You can go to Bosnia and lose on penalties, just like Germany can lose to Ecuador and Paraguay, and Spain can draw 0-0 with Cape Verde. 'We are Italy'—it's a great phrase, and we'll always be Italy because history can't be erased, but others are learning to be like us, maybe even better. Or do we want to say that Norway was a modest team?" said the goalkeeper, who has 176 caps for the Azzurri.

See also: Italy: Roberto Mancini appointed new head coach, Buffon approves

Now, Italy is looking to bounce back under Roberto Mancini, who returns for his second spell after his 2018-2023 tenure.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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