Legendary Buffon left feeling blue
GIANLUIGI BUFFON achieved a life’s ambition last night by playing in Italy’s famous blue shirt, but the Azzurri could only limp to a grim 1-1 draw with Macedonia in Turin. Gian Piero Ventura’s side stepped out for the World Cup qualifier in their white away strip to allow the 39-year-old goalkeeper to wear the home shirt. Puma’s new blue kit features a redesigned badge and the rest of the Italy side will wear it for the first time in Monday’s closing Group G match against Albania. But last night’s setback — with Aleksandar Trajkovski securing a shock point for Macedonia on 77 minutes after Giorgio Chiellini had put Italy ahead — ended boss Ventura’s hopes of catching group leaders Spain. The Spanish hammered Albania 3-0 in Alicante to seal their World Cup spot and leave Italy relying on winning a play-off to reach Russia 2018. In Group I, Iceland took a giant stride towards the finals by thumping Turkey 3-0, as pool rivals Croatia slipped up by conceding a last-gasp goal to draw 1-1 with Finland. Victory at home to Kosovo will now hand Iceland a first World Cup finals spot in their history, just two years after the joy of knocking England out of Euro 2016.