‘Playing 1000 games is a great achievement’
goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reminisced to his debut on the verge of making his 1,000th senior appearance.
The 39-year-old has played 168 games for Italy over a 20-year international career which began in October 1997.
Buffon has also played 220 times for Parma, the club where he began his career, and 612 games for his current club Juventus who he joined in 2001.
In total, he had made 999 appearances in his senior career as of Friday night.
“It’s a great achievement, I’m happy but I won’t go on to the pitch with different emotions compared to my 999th game,” Buffon told Sky Sport Italia.
“The most exciting games are always the first, whether it’s in Serie A or the national team. The only thing I can say is that there won’t be another 1,000 games.”
SMALLING TO MISS LITHUANIA GAME
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is injured and will play no part in England’s World Cup qualifier with Lithuania this weekend, the Football Association said.
In his place Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson got his first senior England call-up for Sunday’s match at Wembley.
THIGH INJURY RULES OUT GERMAN’S WEIGL
Germany midfielder Julian Weigl has been ruled out o Sunday’s World Cup qualifier a Azerbaijan after picking up a thigh injury this week.
Germany will have severa players back, though, including striker Mario Gomez and Mesu Ozil, who did not take part in the final training session.