Buffon: Scots should fear us
Gianluigi Buffon is one of Italy's top players and among the best in the world in terms of goalkeeping ability
Also In The News
|
Vertigo, out November 12th. |  |
Thursday, 15, Nov 2007 12:11
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has said Scotland should be afraid ahead of the teams' crucial Euro 2008 qualifying head-to-head on Saturday.
The two teams face off at Hampden Park this weekend, both knowing that a victory would definitely see them into the finals tournament in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
The world champion Italians are the favourites for the match, but Scotland boast a 100 per cent record at home during the campaign – including impressive victories over World Cup finalists France and World Cup quarter-finalists Ukraine.
And Buffon believes that although the atmosphere could be intimidating at the Scottish national stadium, he says the home side are more likely to be afraid than the visitors.
"We could be afraid if we didn't have experience but the squad is full of players who have experience of Serie A, the Champions League and the World Cup so we will not find ourselves unprepared," the Juventus goalkeeper told the Guardian.
"If anyone is afraid it is Scotland who are afraid of us."
Nevertheless, Buffon believes the Scots have improved a great deal in recent years - a claim that is borne out in their Fifa world ranking of 13.
"Scotland are always worthy of respect and football in Scotland is evolving," he continued.
"Perhaps compared to us they have been inferior technically but from the point of view of character they have always had a good squad that can narrow the gap.
"They have some top players. We are not playing against a side from the Scottish fourth division."