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30 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 30th 2006When I’m not on the pitch, I play another kind of football, at home… You see, one of my favourite hobbies is Subbuteo. Do you know the one I mean? A green cloth, miniature players, flicking with your fingertip. I have a real passion for it, and I would go as far as to say that I’m also a collector of teams on a minor scale, both Italian and foreign ones. I search for them and I buy them, simply because I like to have a lot and to be able to line up more formations.
I play as well. Moreover, I’ve already told you that I didn’t become a goalkeeper straight away, but that I had already begun my career, and that it was when I was twelve years old that I chose to go in goal. However, I still get an urge to use my feet, and not just my hands. That’s perhaps one of the reasons why I enjoy Subbuteo so much, because I get to put myself in the shoes of the defenders, midfielders and forwards. Although I must admit, I get excited when I pull an amazing performance out of the bag with my miniature goalkeeper. You’ll think it strange, but Subbuteo is also useful when it comes to studying teams’ offensive techniques, for committing to memory the positions of the players on the pitch. I wouldn’t be surprised if coaches used it sometimes. To be honest, I’m mostly interested in enjoying myself and relaxing: win or lose, it doesn’t really matter either way! 27 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 27th 2006Before we talk about the Juventus-Roma match, I’d like to share my thoughts with you having watched the Para-Olympics on TV. Having seen blind skiers going down the slopes, for example, it brought home to me the tremendous courage of these athletes, aside from their undeniable technical ability. Their synchronisation with the guide leading them, their ability to feel the right time to take a bend, and the trust they place in them, are awe-inspiring.
I therefore think that television and the newspapers, with the exception of those following the event, have missed a great opportunity to give coverage to the Para-Olympics. It would have been a great awareness campaign, which has however not received enough coverage.
It’s a shame, I personally feel proud of those athletes and their achievements; I can say that I have learned something really important from them – that with willpower it's possible to overcome any hurdle. There have been moments in which it didn’t even dawn on me that some of them were competing with physical disabilities.
Well done, very well done, and I mean that wholeheartedly. Regarding the match against Roma, I’m really glad that it is once again going to be a high-profile game. To tell the truth, I was in no doubt, having seen the strength of the Roma players, who are capable of moving up in the classification ranking with an impressive series of victories. We’re doing OK, particularly mentally, and we feel strong. I’m sorry Totti won’t be able to play, although I’ve seen for myself that he's making a speedy recovery, and that he’s already been kicking a ball around. He’ll be part of the World Cup, of that I’m sure. 22 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 22nd 2006I’d like to tell you a bit about my two great passions. My number one passion is dogs. For a few years now, two fantastic Labradors called Ugo and Leto have been part of my life. When my friends see me fooling around with them, they joke about the fact that they are the only kind of Labrador… lean and on top form. It’s true that I like to take them for a run, so that they enjoy themselves and play. In short, the dogs are athletic, like their owner. As well as being good for them, we enjoy ourselves, and really have a good time together. Since I got Ugo and Leto, my life has been a lot more worthwhile.
On that note, please allow me to appeal to those who abandon their pets: don’t, it’s cruel. They love you and would never betray you. With summer around the corner, these incidents are unfortunately all too frequent, so please avoid them and act responsibly.
Clothes are another of my great passions. I must admit, my favourite designer is Giorgio Armani, particularly when looking for smart suits. I can’t say that the opportunity to wear them arises all that often, but when it does I revel in it. However, I like to spend my free time in casual wear, particularly jeans and sweatshirts. Then there’s the shoes. We footballers are fortunate, we actually have all kinds of shoes, in every colour. We love showing them off, because shoes are also one of the tools of our trade… 21 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 21st 2006I completely agree with the new action against racism that has been adopted by FIFA. My team-mate Lilian Thuram, who has always been involved in this area, was at the meeting in Zurich where the measures were fixed. He told me about his excitement when this following initiative was officially sanctioned: clubs with fans who participate in racist chants or have racist banners in the stadium could be immediately punished by losing league points.
I wouldn't say that the problem of racism can be totally eliminated with these measures, but it does represent a concrete means of fighting against it. In my career I have met players from every country in the World, both playing with them and against them. At absolutely no time has the thought occurred to me that there could be any differences between us. The beautiful thing about football, and sport in general, is that it brings you into closer contact with diverse cultures, which helps you to understand that when all is said and done, we are all equal.
All my support is with players of different skin colours who are often bombarded with insults by opposition fans.
It can't be easy for them to have to overcome certain attitudes. Thuram has often said to me that racism and violence are two sides of the same coin, and I really believe that he is right. I would also like to point out though that fortunately in Italy the problem is not too widespread, and that cases of racism are fairly isolated. It would be a better situation, however, if these measures were enforced so that fans who offend are made to pay. Maybe then, they will think twice before resorting to racist behaviour again.
Before saying goodbye myself, I would like to send all my love to Demetrio Albertini, who said his goodbyes to football in a great game at the San Siro, in which so many champions took part. He too was a champion, and I think he will still have a very useful part to play in football. With his knowledge and intelligence he can do whatever he wants, whether it is as a coach or as a director. I am sure that we will meet each other again. 16 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 16th 2006I’m really pleased since the newspapers are talking a lot about my blog lately: my aim was to “address” my fans, who are showering me with kindness and affection. It’s also thanks to them that I have managed to protect myself during difficult times. Actually, the injury, and particularly the effects it had on my state of mind are now pretty much dead and buried. As for those who maintained that Buffon would never be the same again, I’d be interested to hear what they have to say now.
Actually, there is a difference; the rumours which have been started, such as for example that next year I’m off to Milan. However, this “gossip” does not get to me, I’m actually quite used to it, especially since, if it weren’t Milan, it would be another team. These commercial issues are always being brought up, and clearly my name keeps springing to mind. In actual fact I have a contract with Juventus until 2010 and I’m more than happy to honour it.
Following the draw against Milan, which has meant Juventus could go for the league title (note: I said could, there’s still a long way to go), we’re currently focusing on the Champions League match against Arsenal, and on the best way to tackle this match, with the utmost determination over the forthcoming championship games, starting with the one against Mazzone’s Livorno; he’s the doyen of Italian coaches.
As for me, I’m really starting to feel it, almost a build up of the World Cup exhilaration. The season is coming to a crunch point and I’m on top form. I’ve “had so much rest” as a result of the injury, that now I’m raring to go and put in some hard work, and I feel unfazed by the pressure; quite the opposite, it’s spurring me on. 14 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 14th 2006Dear friends, today I would like to talk to you about someone who has played an important role in developing my career; my agent, Silvano Martina. First of all though, I would like to send a note of encouragement to my friend Wise, at Werder Bremen, whose “injury” allowed Juventus to go through to the quarter finals of the Champions League. A goalkeeper is currently all alone, but it is in himself that he must find the strength to get back up. He will manage it, because he has the right character, as well as good technique.
Having said that, and something of particular interest to me; while we wait for the match against Milan (with adrenaline pumping), I’ll tell you how I met my agent. Bear in mind that when I was 14, Martina hadn’t wanted to meet me, as he thought I was too young… We met two years later after Viareggio competition, and I’ve been with him ever since. First impressions last, and I was immediately struck by his keenness. The fact that he was once a goalkeeper has definitely helped us get along: Silvano understands what’s going on in a goalkeeper’s head at times, and therefore he is able to help me not only with contracts and sponsorships, but also in all aspects of the psychology side of things.
I chose to be a goalkeeper at the age of 12, straight after the World Cup, played in Italy in 1990. Among other things, they directly associated me with Lorenzo Buffon, the great number 1 with Inter and Milan, thinking that may be I had come… recommended. Actually we’re very distant relations, he’s my grandfather’s cousin, although we've met on very few occasions. Martina understood my initial embarrassment when telling people my name and helped me overcome it, and so the comparison no longer bothered me. For me Silvano is a source of inspiration: a serious and qualified professional, but also a friend, who is with me to share in the good times, but he’s mainly there for me when I’m in the thick of it. 08 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 8th 2006“Coach, is Gigi definitely going to be called up for the World Cup? The reason I’m asking is that we were thinking of going on holiday…” This was the remark my girlfriend, Alena Seredova, made to Marcello Lippi, our national team manager last Sunday during the “Sporting Sunday“ when enquiring about my future in the Italy squad. We had pulled through, beating Germany with style and we were all caught up in the euphoria. In any case, I think the coach told Alena to postpone the trip… until after the World Cup. Joking apart, she’s happier than anyone as she’ll be both mine and Italy’s biggest fan, as well as that of the national team of her home country, the Czech Republic, and will thus be experiencing her own, personal derby.
Nevertheless, there are other important fixtures on the horizon before the World Cup. Having beaten Sampdoria in Marassi on Saturday afternoon, we were able to go forward to play Milan the following Sunday with ten positive points: this is a great advantage which will enable Juventus to approach the aforementioned fixture with increased self-assurance, although we can’t ease off just yet as we still don’t have the league title in the bag.
But it’s too soon to be talking about Milan, first we need to overcome the hurdle posed by Werder Bremen in the Champions League, and that’s not going to be easy. In Germany I have played perhaps my best performance of the season, although I ended up letting three goals in. I’m keen to get my own back, and I’m convinced we can get through the qualifying round. The Germans are open-minded, despite the initial advantage, so they’re not just coming to Turin to play defence. We will find the gaps in their defence, and it will be up to us to get the best result from the match. I know they might put a goal past me, but that’s the price we have to pay to beat Werder, and I’m prepared to make that sacrifice. My team mates are out in front, and I have every confidence in them; they need to be focusing on scoring one more than the opposition. 03 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 3rd 2006Both the team and I have responded well. I think that anyone requiring confirmation need only look at the match against Germany. As for me, I stopped two major goal attempts, and I responded well in the face of the prevailing expectations, considering that this was my return to the national team following an absence of eight months. I was quite put out about the fact that I had been depicted as an insecure or timid goalkeeper: that has never been the case, and it would take more than an injury for it to be so. I hope I’ve made that clear to everyone.
Perhaps many of Germany’s players were holding back for the Champions League, which didn’t occur to any of us, which reflects the fact that the squad put in place by our national team manager really has achieved the mentality needed for the World Cup. We all try to put on best performance, for ourselves as well as for the team. The outcome has surpassed our highest expectations.
Despite the 4-1 outcome, and the fact we are aware of our own strength, I don’t think the gap between us and Germany is necessarily all that wide: I’m certain that in three months from now, at home, the Germans will once again pose a threat to everyone. They will strive to look good in front of the home crowd, and I’m sure they will achieve their aim.
Now back to the championship and the match against Sampdoria. For me it’s like a minor derby, in view of my affection for Genoa's red and blue shirts, but it’s going to be a hard match, since Novellino’s team has shown this year that it is capable of taking on the “major league” teams. Anyway, we have no intention of easing off, since the league is not yet in the bag.
Lastly, I would like to touch on a sensitive issue affecting my private life. A few days ago, someone started a rumour that my girlfriend Alena was pregnant. Well, she joked about it herself and said that it wasn’t true, and I can confirm that. Were it the case, you would hear it from us first, and perhaps you would read it in the pages of this diary. However, we are both focusing for the time being on our professional lives and our jobs, therefore… 01 March Gianluigi Buffon, March 1st 2006Yes, I must admit that the defeat in Bremen wasn’t easy to swallow - we couldn’t even get to sleep that night. But then, as always, the best medicine was to get back out onto the pitch: to play again and to beat Lecce – this turned out to be far from easy but then that was only to be expected against a team with different but equally important aims. Anyway, we did it and that’s the only thing that matters.
Now my aim is to get back into the Italian national side, something I always really, really enjoy. We really do want to win the forthcoming World Cup for various reasons: well, we’ve never got close to doing it and then it would be a good opportunity to create a calmer atmosphere around Italian football where, at the moment, controversy reigns supreme. Over the last few days we’ve seen how the Winter Olympics have helped to create a wonderful atmosphere between people, stimulating a healthy love for our own colours and our own country. I’d like to see football focussing on a great goal in order to make the fans happy as well. We will miss Francesco Totti a lot over the coming days - and not just because of his technical abilities, he also has the ability to foster real team spirit in the dressing room. A while ago, when things were not going well for me, I promised myself that I would have a really good World Cup. Well then, now I’d like to say again that I’m ready to return as soon as possible. On the other hand woe betide anyone who thinks that my team-mate Del Piero is nothing more than a substitute or a part-time footballer: Alex is showing everyone what he’s made of – he’s one of those players who can change a game when they come on and who are always decisive when they start the match. I feel sure that he’ll be another of the stars of the World Cup and, in the friendly with Germany, Italy will be hoping to confirm that we really are one of the favourites. |
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