The legendary goalkeeper of Serie A : Gianluigi Buffon

At the age of just 17, Buffon made his Serie A debut for Parma A.C. in a 0-0 home draw against A.C. Milan on 19 November 1995. In his fourth season with the club, he won the UEFA Cup. He transferred from Parma to Juventus in 2001, for a world-record goalkeeper's fee of €52 million. Buffon nearly signed with A.S. Roma in 2001 following his departure from Parma, but team president Franco Sensi instead opted for Atalanta B.C. keeper Ivan Pelizzoli, who averaged less than fifteen appearances in five seasons with Roma. Buffon also claimed that he wouldn't have signed with Roma had he left Juventus in 2006.
"That was never a possibility really... I dont think that Roma had the finances to make an investment of such a nature."
Juventus
In 2003, he received the UEFA Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper awards, and was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. During the annual Luigi Berlusconi Trophy match against Milan in August 2005, Buffon collided with Milan midfielder Kaká while chasing a loose ball, and suffered a dislocated shoulder that required surgery. His operation was successful and he returned to the pitch in November, but played only once as another injury returned him to the sidelines until January. He recovered in time to help lead Juventus to their second consecutive Scudetto and his fourth overall with the club. On 12 May 2006, Buffon, along with former Juventus goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti and many other players, were implicated as participants in illegal betting on Serie A matches while with Parma. The following day, he voluntarily allowed himself to be questioned by Turin magistrates in an attempt to clear his name. While admitting that he did bet on sports (until regulations went into effect in late 2005, banning players from doing so), he vehemently denied placing wagers on Italian football matches. Fears arose that he had jeopardized his chance of playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he was officially named Italy's starting goalkeeper on 15 May. The players were cleared of all charges by the FIGC on 27 June 2007.
Following Juventus' punishment in the Calciopoli scandal, rumors spread that Juventus were shopping Buffon on the transfer market as a cost-cutting measure, and many teams became interested in his services. However, no deals ever materialized as Buffon elected to remain with Juventus; his agent said:
"Serie B is a division he has never won and he wants to try to do this."
A.C. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani stated in April 2007 that Buffon's decision to stay proved a catalyst in re-signing incumbent Dida, though Buffon later denied having ever been contacted by Milan.
Widely regarded as one of the worlds greatest goalkeepers, Buffon has kept clean sheets against many top strikers. After Juventus won the Cadetti and were promoted back into the top flight, Buffon signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2012.
International career
Buffon celebrating after a win.
Buffon was awarded his first cap for Italy at the age of nineteen, as an injury replacement for Gianluca Pagliuca during a qualifer for 1998 FIFA World Cup play-off against Russia. He was called up for the 1998 World Cup finals, but did not play a single game as Pagliuca remained first choice. He was a member of the Italy squad at the 1992 Summer Olympics, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He was also the first choice goalkeeper for Italy at the Euro 2000, but broke his hand in a friendly match against Norway just eight days before the tournament started, and had his starting place taken by Francesco Toldo.
He kept five clean sheets in addition to a 453-minute scoreless streak during the 2006 World Cup finals; the only goals conceded were an own goal from teammate Cristian Zaccardo against the United States, and a Zinédine Zidane penalty in the final against France, which ended 1-1 in extra time and led to a penalty shootout in which neither Buffon nor Fabien Barthez could make a save. The lone miss was David Trézéguet's effort that clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and failed to cross the line, which enabled Italy's Fabio Grosso to seal the victory for the Italians. Buffon received the Yashin Award for his accomplishments throughout the competition.
Buffon was named Italy captain for Euro 2008 after incumbent Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In the second game of the group stage against Romania on June 13, he saved a penalty from Adrian Mutu in the 1st minute as the match ended 1-1. Italy were eliminated in the quarterfinals nine days later after a 0-0 penalty shootout loss to Spain in which Buffon made one save.

There are some of his best saves.

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TONIGHT SERIE A MATCH

Friday 9 March 2012

Chievo Verona - Inter
Referee: MAZZOLENI
Assistants: BIANCHI – BARBIRATI
Fourth Official: RUSSO

It's the "win or win" for Inter now down to the 7th position with 37 points and an even "0" goal difference.  The minimum objective set for Inter president Massimo Moratti is to reach the third position to qualify for the Champions League next year, yet,... that seems a "wish list" that might not be granted.  Inter far from being consistent are having a rocking tumultuous season.   The gap with the third position are 11 points as Lazio holding the third position  have 48 points.

Chievo Verona are in the 10th position with 34 points and a negative goal difference of -9.  Wow! Say what!  A victory for Chievo means reaching 37 points like Inter and mamma mia that will be a major blow for Inter!!!! Here is the thing.  If Catania defeat Fiorentina and Inter lose this game, they will go down to the 8th position because Catania have 35 points.  Ooops.....  By the way, last week both teams played ending with a draw, Inter 2 - 2 Catania  Moreover, the victory will be the added boost for next week UEFA Champions League Round of 16 against Olympique Marseille on Tuesday March 13 at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Wondering if Moratti already have the phone numbers from available coaches next year?  or before the end of the season? 

Top scorer for CHIEVO VERONA is Lodi with 7 goals.
Top scorer for INTER is forward Diego Milito with 13 goals.

Here is the disciplinary situation.  No suspended players for CHIEVO, 7 players with one yellow card away from suspension: Mandelli, Luciano, Sammarco, Dainelli, Sardo, Andreolli, Rigoni

One suspended player for Inter:  Castaignos and 1 player with one yellow card away from suspension:  Walter Samuel

 

Here is the probable formation for CHIEVO VERONA (4-3-2-1) 54 Sorrentino, 21 Frey, 3 Andreolli, 15 Acerbi, 93 Dramé, 10 Luciano, 16 Rigoni, 6 Bradley, 7 Sammarco, 77 Théréau, 31 Pellissier

 

Here is the probable formation for INTER (4-3-1-2) 1 Julio Cesar, 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 23 Samuel, 4 Zanetti, 18 Poli, 5 Stankovic, 20 Obi, 10 Sneijder, 22 Milito, 9 Forlan  

Napoli - Cagliari
Referee:  BRIGHI
Assistants: ROSI – DI FIORE
Fourth Official: GIANNOCCARO

Napoli are in the 5th position with 43 points and a positive goal difference of +19.  Udinese holding the 4th position have 46 points.  The only way Napoli can climb one step this week is to defeat Cagliari and hope for Novara to defeat Udinese.
Cagliari are in the 15th position with 31 points and a negative goal difference of -6.

Top scorer for NAPOLI is forward Edinson Cavani with 16 goals just two goals away top scorers Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale and AC Milan Zlatan Ibrahimovic having 18 goals each.
Top scorer for CAGLIARI is forward Mauricio Pinilla and Larrivey with 4 goals each.  Hello, hello, Cagliari in urgent need to see their forwards scoring, four are way too low by now.

Napoli are playing the away game of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 next Wednesday March 14 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London.  Hence, a victory today will be the added boost.

 

Here is the probable formation for NAPOLI (3-4-1-2) 1 De Sanctis, 14 Campagnaro, 28 Cannavaro, 6 Aronica, 11 Maggio, 23 Gargano, 88 Inler, 18 Zuniga, 17 Hamsik, 22 Lavezzi, 7 Cavani

 

Here is the probable formation for CAGLIARI (4-3-1-2) 1 Agazzi, 14 Pisano, 21 Canini, 13 Astori, 31 Agostini, 27 Dessena, 5 Conti, 4 Nainggolan, 7 Cossu, 18 Nenè, 19 Thiago Ribeiro

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Some Fact and Information about Serie A of Italian

Football as most of the world knows it, is a national passion in many countries, especially Italy. Italian soccer fans have good reason to be passionate: Their country's national team has won the World Cup championship four times and is consistently ranked among the best in the world. In addition, Italian league teams attract some of the top soccer talent in the world. There is some fact and information about Serie A.

History

Soccer was primarily a recreational pursuit with a scattering of club teams throughout the 1800s until the Italy's national soccer association, known as the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, or FIGC, formed in 1898. It is a part nf the Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA. A true national championship would not develop for another 15 years. World War I interrupted soccer activities throughout much of Europe, but by the 1930s, Italian soccer was establishing itself as the best in Europe, winning the FIFA World Cup in 1934 and 1938. In 1936, the Italians took the gold medal in the Berlin Olympics. Italian soccer struggled for many years, finally re-establishing itself as a world power in the late 1960s and eventually winning the World Cup again in 1982. According to the website Worldfootball.net, the Italian national team's nickname is the "Squadra Azzurra" or "Blue Squad," a reference to the team's blue and white uniforms.

World Cup Success

The International Federation of Association Football, the governing body of world soccer, held the first World Cup tournament in 1930. Since then, the FIFA World Cup has become one of the most popular sporting events in the world. Italy has won the World Cup four times, more than any nation except five-time winner Brazil. Italy won back-to-back World Cup titles in 1934 and 1938. Italy won its third World Cup at the 1982 tournament in Spain and its fourth in Germany in 2006.

1982 World Cup

Italy won the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain on June 11, by a score of 3 to 1 over West Germany. It was their third World Cup win. The 1982 Adidas Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe awards were given to Paolo Rossi of Italy after he scored a total of six goals in the tournament. Dino Zoff and Franco Baresi played on this World Cup winning team. On the way to the championship title they beat Argentina with a score of 2 to 1 in round two and Poland -- who finished third -- with a score of 2 to 0 in the semi-finals.

League Winners

Serie A is Italy's top professional soccer league, consisting of 20 of the country's top-ranked teams. Juventus of Turin has won the league title a record 27 times since the league's inception in the 1890s, World Football reports. International of Milan, better known as Inter, has won the Serie A title 18 times, including five consecutive times from 2006 to 2010. Another Milan club, AC Milan, has won the title 17 times.

Italian Cup

The Italian Cup is Italy's top national tournament, pitting soccer clubs from across the country. The first Italian Cup took place in 1922, with AC Vado winning. The tournament did not occur again until 1936, when Torino FC won. Two clubs, Juventus and AS Roma, hold the record for the most Italian Cup wins, with nine victories each, according to World Football. Inter and ACF Fiorentina have won the tournament six times each.

Champions League

In addition to their national competitions and the World Cup, Italian soccer teams also have made their mark on the UEFA Champions League, which pits Europe's top soccer clubs against each other. Since 1956, when the Champions League began, Italian teams have won the league 12 times, tying with Spain. Italian teams that regularly compete in the Champions League include Inter, Juventus and AC Milan.

Scandals

Italian teams have enjoyed massive success on soccer pitches around the world, but corruption scandals have erupted over the sport, even costing a team its national title. The British Broadcasting Corporation reported that a match-fixing scandal in 1980 resulted in two Serie A teams, Lazio and AC Milan, being demoted to Serie B, a lower league. In 2005, an investigation revealed that some referees had been pressured to fix matches by favoring certain clubs. As a result, Juventus was stripped of its league title. In addition, a team doctor was found guilty of giving performance-enhancing drugs to Juventus players during the 1990s.

Italian soccer teams are popular with world class players and known to have one of the most tactical and defensive strategies in the history of the game. The professional Italian soccer league Serie A produces some of the most powerful championship games in Europe. Italian soccer teams have won the Olympic gold medal and the World Cup. There are some player who become a legend after their retirement.

Franco Baresi

Franco Baresi was one of the best Italian defenders ever to play soccer and known as a tactical perfectionist. In 1978 at the age of 18, Baresi played the first professional game of his career with AC Milan against Verona. AC Milan went on to win the Serie A title that same year. Il Capitano, as fans called him, is known as the quintessential defensive Italian soccer player, earning a captain's band in 1982 at the age of 22. Baresi is known as the best AC Milan player of all time and his number "6" is retired. Before retiring at the age of 37, he and AC Milan had won six Serie A titles. He played alongside other famous Italian defensive soccer players including teammate Paolo Maldini.

Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff is one of the best known soccer goalkeepers in the world. Zoff spent most of his career with the Italian soccer teams Napoli and Juventus playing from 1968 to 1983, and in 1982 at the age of 40 became the oldest player to win the World Cup and collected the trophy as the team's captain. He defended the goal for 1,142 minutes consecutive minutes in international competition conceding no goals between September 1972 and June 1974. His clean sheet streak was broken in the 1974 World Cup in Italy's game against Haiti. He played for the national team 112 times, a league record. After retiring as a professional player he managed Lazio a team from Rome from 1990 to 1994, 1997 and 2001. He coached the Italian national team from 1998 to 2000.

Quadruple the Trouble for Italy

  Diego Milito’s quadruple known as a ‘poker’ against Palermo was a rare moment, in fact it was only the sixth time it’s happened in ten years, but with Italy’s final friendly before Euro 2012 looming it focused the eyes on the Azzurri’s frontline.
The Argentinian’s four-step sent him into a comic book group that features ‘the little plane’, Vincenzo Montella, twinkle-toes Christian Vieri, and ‘The Wonder Boy’ Alexis Sanchez. The sextuplet is completed by Alberto Gilardino, who should be nicknamed the ‘Gila Monster’, and Cristiano Lucarelli, perhaps the reddest Amaranto in history, who both scored four in Parma’s 6-4 win over Livorno in May 2005.
The haul boosted Il Principe’s season tally to 12, level with Edinson Cavani and German Denis, but still 3 shy of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 4 behind Antonio Di Natale. The last man to hit a quattro was Alexis Sanchez, coincidentally also against Palermo in Udinese’s 7-0 win at the Renzo Barbera,but his former strike partner is cutting a lonely figure at the top surrounded as he is by foreign strikers.

The year Montella battered Lazio, 2002, David Trezeguet was joint capocannoniere with Dario Hubner on 24 strikes as eight Italians filled the top ten scorers. The following season in 2003, when Bobo bashed four past Brescia he danced his way to the summit, also with 24 goals, alongside seven of his countrymen.
The spike in 2006-7 is perhaps anomalous because it was after the Calciopoli scandal when Juventus were relegated and the league was in disarray, however, it’s not clear how points deductions would make foreign forwards less capable in front of goal.
From the receding blue wave it’s fair to deduce there has been a steady decline in Italians prominence in the top scoring chart, and after half of the2011-12 season only three, Di Natale (1) Fabrizio Miccoli (9) and Emanuele Calaio (10=) bookend the seven forwards born outside the bel paese.
The foreign invasion is of course not limited to Italy, as Germany, England and Spain show increasing contributions from the non-native, yet it’s interesting to observe the stranieri have scored 266 of the 519 goals in Serie A up to matchday 21.

Looking at the top teams there’s no big surprises with Juventus’ strong Italian policy resulting in Matri, Claudio Marchisio and Simone Pepe combining for 20 of the Bianconeri’s 33 goals.
How Max Allegri has squeezed 7 out of Antonio Nocerino, his best total as a professional, is still being assessed, but the former Palermo man is the only Italian to make any decent contribution to the Rossoneri’s tally of 43.
Most of the Azzurri’s potential goals for Euro 2012 reside in these teams, but on current records it is only potential. Matri has one international goal in four appearances, Sebastian Giovinco 0, Giampaolo Pazzini has notched 4 in 23 while Di Natale’s inclusion is amazingly still precarious despite scoring 43 goals in 56 league games since the 2010 World Cup, also the last time he played for Italy.
A further problem for Cesare Prandelli in terms of experience is the absence of Antonio Cassano after heart surgery in November. The Milan striker top scored with 6 of Italy’s 20 goals and was the only forward to start all ten qualifying games for Poland and Ukraine, and though some reports suggest a return to training it seems impossible he’ll line up in the summer. Pablo Osvaldo and Giuseppe Rossi are in the midst of long term injuries, while Alberto Gilardino with 17  goals, has played only 59 minutes for the Azzurri since South Africa.
A lot of hope will fall on the shoulders of Mario Balotelli who’s had the most entertaining season of his career, including 9 goals for Manchester City. Described as enigmatic, malicious, a genius and out of control, often in a single game, the 21 year-old needs to quadruple his solitary effort if Italy have any hope of looking dangerous in Group C.
While the 1968 winners were one of eight teams to score twenty goals or more in qualifying for the tournament, success hinged on its defence, conceding only 2, the fewest of any team. One line of hope is the Juventus contingent bring their form and familiarity, fresh from winning the scudetto into the national team, with Andrea Pirlo continuing his swansong on the big stage. It’s clear, at least statistically, the available strike force is inexperienced and desperately short on goals, so Prandelli will utilize defensive solidity and hope one of his attackers can prove Italians still have what it takes to score on the international stage.
The hope is through greater fiscal responsibility, or restriction, clubs’ will be forced  to put more resources into the next generation, instead of purchasing foreign talent so future coaches of the Azzurri have a greater and deeper pool of strikers to choose from.
I hope the Azzurri coach can rearrange the team to be a better team to face the other big team in the serie a of Italian football. But I think, Azzurri is good right now. Because they are leading the standing until this weeks standings.

Selling Sneijder Keeping Eto’o, Was That What Inter Should Have Done?

   Originally the Nerazzurri could not believe it, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had gone but in return they had 46 million Euros and even better they had Samuel Eto’o. Now, half a season since the Cameroonian left for Russia the question is being asked, ‘Did Moratti sell the wrong man?’

   On arrival at Inter in July 2009 Eto’o said in his first press conference that he did not want to be compared to anybody, he was his own player and he would be judged in this way. This statement was then backed up by a spectacular season under Jose Mourinho in which he guided Inter to the treble. Even though his goal return was poor for his standards, 16 in total, it did not tell the full story as he was constantly put out on the left hand side where he became provider for the prolific Diego Milito. Also he made his name as a ‘big game player’ scoring in all of the important matches.

   His second season saw him take on a more central role and as coaches and players failed to produce and whist the team were dogged by injuries Eto’o dragged the Nerazzurri by the scruff of the neck to a Coppa Italia victory. This season saw him score an incredible 37 goals which was a personal record for the legendary striker. All looked well for the Nerazzurri but as the season approached and with the FIFA’s financial fair play scheme coming into play, Inter President Massimo Moratti knew he needed to balance the books. The summer progressed with the usual transfer rumours being banded about but one players name kept emerging. Wesley Sneijder had been linked with a move away from Inter and the writing seemed to be on the wall, especially when Inter’s new coach Gian Piero Gasperini was announced.

   Gasperini was renowned for playing a 3-4-3 which would mean that the Dutchman would have to play out on the wing instead of the trequartista role that he had had so much success in. This also led many to believe (including Gasperini) that the team would focus around the potent striking power of Samuel Eto’o, however, just before the transfer window ended it was Eto’o himself who departed making a shock transfer to cash rich Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala. As the Inter fans mourned the loss, the new coach was left with a group of players that did not fit his system. The result was inevitable and after a dismal start to the season Gasperini was dismissed.

AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's gesture was not violent

  
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has rejected the notion that Zlatan Ibrahimovic deliberately tried to hurt Napoli defender Salvatore Aronica in Sunday's goalless draw between the two clubs.
 The Sweden international was shown a red card in the second half of the match for slapping Aronica, an action which could earn him an automatic three-game ban if considered violent conduct."I am reading catastrophic opinions, but there was no violence involved," Galliani told Milan Channel. "I think that Ibrahimovic will not be suspended for more than two matches."Aronica's gesture towards Antonio Nocerino? I saw it, the referee did not."
After the match, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted that Ibrahimovic deserved a red card for his action.In case of a three-match suspension, the former Barcelona striker will miss the club's Serie A matches against Udinese, Cesena and Juventus.