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Gianluigi Buffon Defends Marcello Lippi's Decision To Freeze Out Antonio Cassano From Italy's World Cup Squad
Gianluigi Buffon believes that Marcello Lippi had his reasons not to include Antonio Cassano in the World Cup squad.
| Bet: | Returns: | Sampdoria £15.50 | Draw £34.00 | Empoli £62.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Sampdoria £15.70 | Draw £35.00 | Empoli £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Sampdoria £15.70 | Draw £35.00 | Empoli £70.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Sampdoria £16.00 | Draw £35.00 | Empoli £59.00 |
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Sep 8, 2010 8:15:00 PM
By Subhankar Mondal
Italy international and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has defended former Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi over his decision to ostracise Antonio Cassano from the national team squad during his tenure.
Lippi, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, has been heavily criticised by some observers as Cassano has turned on the style on his recall to the Azzurri set-up under new coach Cesare Prandelli.
However, Buffon, who is likely sidelined until 2011, believes that Lippi had his own reasons for freezing out the Sampdoria playmaker.
“With hindsight it’s too easy to give perfectly linear answers,” Buffon told Sky Sport Italia. “Behind Lippi’s choices there was a sense of coherence and consistency. He wanted to reward those who took part in the two-year cycle, giving precedence to versatility and solidity.
“At the end of the day it didn’t go as well as we’d hoped.”
However, the Juventus legend hopes that Cassano, who was Italy's best player against both Estonia and the Faroe Islands in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, carries on with his good form.
“I hope Cassano will always be more or less the same funny guy with his way of communicating. Up until two or three years ago, he had the wrong attitude on the field. He recognised that too and certain setbacks helped him.”
Buffon added, “The real revolution was in calling players who weren’t there before, but that doesn’t mean Lippi’s picks are to be unjustly criticised.
“Prandelli is the very image of a relaxed approach and solidity, which is what we needed coming from Lippi’s era.”
Lippi, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, has been heavily criticised by some observers as Cassano has turned on the style on his recall to the Azzurri set-up under new coach Cesare Prandelli.
However, Buffon, who is likely sidelined until 2011, believes that Lippi had his own reasons for freezing out the Sampdoria playmaker.
“With hindsight it’s too easy to give perfectly linear answers,” Buffon told Sky Sport Italia. “Behind Lippi’s choices there was a sense of coherence and consistency. He wanted to reward those who took part in the two-year cycle, giving precedence to versatility and solidity.
“At the end of the day it didn’t go as well as we’d hoped.”
However, the Juventus legend hopes that Cassano, who was Italy's best player against both Estonia and the Faroe Islands in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, carries on with his good form.
“I hope Cassano will always be more or less the same funny guy with his way of communicating. Up until two or three years ago, he had the wrong attitude on the field. He recognised that too and certain setbacks helped him.”
Buffon added, “The real revolution was in calling players who weren’t there before, but that doesn’t mean Lippi’s picks are to be unjustly criticised.
“Prandelli is the very image of a relaxed approach and solidity, which is what we needed coming from Lippi’s era.”
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And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
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All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
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Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
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Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
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Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
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