Italy No1 Buffon: Hiddink will stumble
|
Italy goalkeeper Gigi Buffon is confident Guus Hiddink's luck will run out when they face Australia today.
The Azzurri are still haunted by their defeat to South Korea in the last 16 of World Cup 2002, especially after crashing out of the European Championships two years later at the group stages.
"We know Hiddink very well," said Juventus No 1 Buffon, the world's most expensive keeper. "He is a great coach and I think his CV speaks for itself. But four years have passed since Korea and Japan and things have changed."
The Italians have regained their self-belief since highly-experienced tactician Marcello Lippi replaced Giovanni Trapattoni two years ago and go into this afternoon's second-round showdown on the back of an impressive 21-game unbeaten run.
"Lippi has given us a boost in confidence," explained Buffon. "We know we have a strong squad and we must continue to prove this on the pitch."
The Azzurri are still haunted by their defeat to South Korea in the last 16 of World Cup 2002, especially after crashing out of the European Championships two years later at the group stages.
"We know Hiddink very well," said Juventus No 1 Buffon, the world's most expensive keeper. "He is a great coach and I think his CV speaks for itself. But four years have passed since Korea and Japan and things have changed."
The Italians have regained their self-belief since highly-experienced tactician Marcello Lippi replaced Giovanni Trapattoni two years ago and go into this afternoon's second-round showdown on the back of an impressive 21-game unbeaten run.
"Lippi has given us a boost in confidence," explained Buffon. "We know we have a strong squad and we must continue to prove this on the pitch."
<< Home