Buffon has the passion, Italy have the players

IF THERE’S anyone still wondering what Italy’s intentions are at this European Championship, they need look no further than Gianluigi Buffon’s angry reaction after the Azzurri’s semi-final win over Germany. While his team-mates celebrated, Buffon could not ignore the way Italy allowed a penalty kick in injury time of a 2-1 win, plus a few other chances for Germany that could have sent the match to extra time. Buffon said: “I don’t celebrate second place. We should have avoided those last five minutes of sufferance. Football is a game, but when you reach the semi-finals of a European Championship it’s not a game any more.” One of the pillars of Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory, Buffon can add another trophy with a win over Spain in tomorrow’s final.