Gigi Buffon meets Jimbo and Horncastle (in Italian)

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1:44The Athletic FC.

1:52Totally Extra. This week at the Totally Studios, we had a very special guest when Gigi Buffon stopped by to chat with myself and James Horncastle about his incredible career. The conversation is in Italian. So if you'd like to see the great man in our studios with subtitles, head over to our YouTube channel at the Totally Football Show. Or if you are one of our Italian-speaking listeners, please enjoy Mr Gigi Buffon.

2:26It's Totally Extra today with me, James Richardson, with James Horncastle. Hello. And who's this we have here? Si presenta, por favor. Yes, I'm Gigi Buffon. Hi, guys. Hi, Gigi Buffon. I'm very thrilled to be here with you. You're very kind. I guess that explains why we have this magnificent volume here. Questa bel libro. Saved. In English, it's out already, actually. I think it came out on Thursday of this week, the 16th of April. There are thereabouts. In Italian, I love the title Cadere Realzarsi, Cadere Realzarsi for Get Back Up Again. Get back up. Says Gigi, in Italian, so you'll excuse the subtitles, Credo di essermi lanciato a terra a terra miliardi de volte.

3:12so how and when you fall how to raise myself it taught me life it's true it's a good book Gigi thank you it begins in a very dramatic way Tuesday the 30th of May 2023 about 9.30pm that was when I died the day that you I decided to stop playing It's a day not dramatic, but it's a day definitely delicate. Because for who did my life, for who did my football, for who did my competition, the moment in which you decide precisely, in a way, to stop playing and stop playing that profession, it gives you always a brivile, because you know that nothing will be like before. You've been in the way you wanted?

4:12Yes, I've been in the way I wanted and this is why I thank you for life. Because I always ask myself to make me in the moment when I have a small fortune and I don't want to start. I was hurt for the third time in two seasons at the Polpaccio. It was now in May, so the season was finished. and I said that this is the right time to finish it. Forse because all the fans of Italian golf remember the end of Francesco Totti, when he was in the last on the field of the Olympic Olympic Games, he had to read this letter very common. So, it's true, let's say that I, a difference of his, had a fortune, which I had been stopped more late, so I had 45 years old, and it were already 5 years that I thought I'd stop.

5:14So for me it wasn't a surprise or something unexpected. It was something that I metabolized in the time. And so, at the end, the decision did not have caused all that pain that maybe has caused him with all that you said in the book that it was like the gloves did not want to leave the hands yes it is true because at the end I did a life with the gloves with the hands inside the gloves and I I spoke with the guants. What did you say? I said, I said, this evening, before a important game, I said, guys, I said, this evening we play a lot of our dignity, a lot of our glory, so you have to do a good job.

6:09Because in the end, even the guants are a tool that I have helped to perform better. And so, inevitably, we create this sintonia, this rapport, even with an inanimous thing. You have often said that your role, the role of power, is a masochistic job, right? Yes. Can you explain a little bit? Yes, I'm convinced of this. I think that the power has three important characteristics. important. 1. 1. 2. 2.

6:534. 6. 9. 10. 11. 12.

7:0412. You have to be a bit masochistic, because the fact that you can't have a satisfaction, like scoring a goal, you can only score them, and then you're always in defense, not never in attack. And so it's not easy to decide to make a life always in defense and never in attack. Bram Paul would say something different, no? Sì, but they're little. How many years have you now? I have 48 It's incredible because you are the same No, no but still I'm the same because at the end but also for personal pride when I go around and there are people it makes me feel that they see me in a good state if they see me too heavy or old, I would be a little bit I would be a little bit for myself and for the idea that they have of me but it's always altruistic even altruistic but also this

8:29And of course, the World Cup, greatest goalkeeper of his generation, one of the greatest ever, World Cup winner, Italy's most capped player, Serie A's player with most Serie A appearances ever, inventor of probably the greatest insult in the history of football as well. Colabito inglese. Michael Iver. Si. We'll get on to all of that. We'll get on to all of that. But let's begin with you as a youth with a pair of gardening gloves. This is the Totally Football Show with James Richardson, part of the Athletic FC Podcast Network.

9:27and I became a national basketball player, I am playing a ballpark with the NCAA in pallavolo Vrg, I can see them in this match with a race I won the Cup of Champions League, and I had a new sister who historia played to the Nil�� as great part of the inter in national and another one who played to the NCAA in pallavolo北, another one who grew up captain of the Pallavolo national national ivan. So sport was the most important part and specific part of our family. Our common denominator was sport. Why did you put on the sport? I put on the sport for something simple. Because my father had seen me every time play with my friends and he said, look at that important, you're brave.

10:26Only I prefer to do that to not try to take them. And then, the definitive decision was made in the World Cup of 1990 when I saw the Cameroon and there was Thomas Incono. That day, I remember the game, it was the game of Argentina, which was played in San Siro. I was remained rapido by the African-American and Thomas Sincona, with Roger Miller, with Omanbik, with other players of that expound, he became my absolute idol. And I decided to start doing the courtier. And in the course of the years Thomas Sincona is become a friend of yours. Yes, we met him first. First of all, the World Cup of 1998 in France, because Italy and Cameroon were in the same race, and then in the time we saw it many times, we saw it in Parma, we saw it in Torino, I was going to Barcelona and we created a relationship with friendship, a incredible bond.

11:34In addition, I went to Cameroon to their football, they did a festival for their football. and I was the only European to go to Cameron. It was a magnificent experience. Gigi, one of your children's names is Thomas? Yes, Louis Thomas. For Thomas Unconor? Yes, of course. Another one is called David Lee. Yes. Is it true that this is for David Lee Roth or Van Halen? No, it's not true.

12:09No, I have to say that it was a choice of my ex-moglie and mine, so we liked this... Van Halen does not exist? No, it does not exist, I have to say the truth, I have to be honest. What was your favorite Van Halen song? You were quite the prodigy How do you say prodigy in Italian, James? Predestinato Sì, sempre All 'età di 14 Stavi sul copertino delle Gazzette dello Sport

12:51Debutto contro il Milan All 'età del 17 anni E tu racconti nel libro Un bel inedito I was in the tunnel of Ennio Tadini that day with Paolo Maldini. Yes. Because Paolo Maldini in that game obviously played for Milan. Certo. He was already captain of Milan. He gave you a advice to you in that moment? He said something? No, I remember the emotion. I was not sure anyone knew because I still haven't played. so I present myself in the bottom of the passage before I go to the field and there are all these incredible champions that for me were always been an idol, I've always seen it on television, I've always admired it, when you're a fan fan of someone, when you see your idol, you seem to...

13:51Who Gigi? For me, for me, for me to see that Milan there, even if I was not a Milan, there were Franco Baresi, there were Paolo Maldini, there were Svone Boban, there were UEA, there was Baggio, there was... There was a lot of Milan, that was a Milan incredible. Were you nervous? No, I was excited, I was excited, I was excited, because there was a lot of the fool of the boy, I was excited, because I had the desire to make me know. I was there and I said now you don't know me, but you'll know me. And this was my total folly. But it was my force in that moment to give myself a convincing way. It's true that you've been sleeping on the pool.

14:44Yes, before the game. Yes, they were all thinking about it. I was my first player in the game, because it was my first game, I was 17 years old. Then we were first in class together with Milan, so it was a very important game. All of us had great pride in me, but also had the thought that maybe a bit of tension, a bit of responsibility could... In fact, when we were on the Pulma, in the tragedy of going to the stadium, I'm there, I'm sleeping and I remember that my friend of the squadra goes to the coach and says, Mr. If you're worried, stay calm, because Gigi is the most calm of everyone today.

15:29Here we're all nervous, but the only one is calm that Gigi is, so you're calm. And that's been a special thing. And you're there in the tunnel, and Paolo Maldini is watching you. Paolo mi sta guardando e mi dice... No, non mi dice quello. Mi fa un sorriso e poi mi mette la mano sopra la spalla come per darmi forza. Perché secondo me, anche lui che ha esordito molto presto, secondo me si ricordava cosa voleva dire giocare la prima partita e poi una partita così importante. And so, even if he was a my opponent in that moment, I had the sensibility, the carina of me wanting to give me support. And this thing I remember for always.

16:20It was one of the stories of the 90's in Serie A, the day that Nevi Oskar decided to go with the third-fair against the most strong squad in the world. Milan at the time was like PSG, Man City, Real together. Palm was strong, but Real a year ago had made a dream team of Cruyff. It's true, it's true. And those players that you remember. But you made a clean sheet. Yes. You didn't have given the goal. No, I didn't have given the goal. Do you remember the game? I remember the game very well. I remember all the interventions I made I remember the first ball that I had to be able to That was a cross that came from the left side I was out and I blocked the ball And in that moment I remember it for always because Because first of all I broke the glass, that is, I entered the game.

17:32And secondarily, I heard the public that when I was out, I was out, I was like, ah, like to say, no, no, this courtier has the hands, at least we put in port a court that has the hands. And this was already safe. Excellent. That palmer in the book describes you a bit like a mother for you. Yes. Why? Because at the end, Parma is the city that I grew up. I went there when I was 13 years old, I did all the youth, I had the fortune of living part of the most beautiful years of the story of Parma. We were very famous in the world because in South America, Parma was the most famous in Italy with all the players.

18:21and then you had the perception that a small reality was becoming something international and it was incredible because... Even here in England, the Parma is maybe the second squadron of many English passionate people of the country. Yes, and then it was a nice squadron. The Parma was a nice squadron. It was a nice squadron. Asprilium. Ah, yes, there was a lot of... But even the coach was a great coach. Yes, a great coach, a great coach. A great coach, a great coach who still tried to educate. In addition to teaching soccer, he tried to educate the players and especially the guys like me who needed them.

19:11And Carlos? Carlo è stata una grandissima sorpresa per noi perché lui è arrivato a Parma il secondo anno che allenava aveva fatto l 'anno prima in Serie B e aveva vinto la Serie B con una squadra rivale del Parma che era la Reggiana e l 'anno dopo viene a Parma e la prima cosa che mi colpisce di Carlo è la serenità che ha cioè già lui arriva negli spogliatori I remember the first time he looks like, he says, Hi, I'm a pleasure, Carlo. He says, I'm a fan of calling me Carlo. I don't call him the trainer, I don't call him the delay. He says, I'm a Carlo. And this was a revolution. Because one time, in those times, the trainer wanted to feel the weight of his role.

20:01And so, the fact that you interact with him, giving him the delay, meaning that you recognize your status and your role in the squad. And he said, no, no, call me Carlo and stop. He was the coach that I put in the title. Because I started the season and I never played in the first two months. I never played, never played. Because in front of me there was Luca Bucci, who was also the national team. And then Carlo was in a period where we were going to go and we said we gave it a chance to Gigi and he started to make me play. And he started to make me play and we started to win, to win, to win, to win, to win and then I became the title of the squad.

20:53but he was really the courage to say to me, to say that now the future is your if you want, you take it, if you have this opportunity, maybe you will arrive more late. And he gave me this chance and I was well. Tino Aspriglia, as a team of squadrons? eccezionale Tino Aspriglia è stato memorabile io penso che in quegli anni c 'erano dei contenuti negli spogliatoi che erano troppo esilaranti cioè troppo divertenti e c 'erano io mi ricordo Tino Aspriglia in un battibecco con Nevio Scala perché si era fatto male e quindi doveva recuperare da un infortunio and at a certain point there were two important games and the mister, seeing that he didn't even go well he wanted to play it and every time he came to the field he said no Tino, you have to play 4 km of course and it's the third day that the mister said he said, mister, what do you think?

22:03that I should play Forrest Gump? I don't know Forrest Gump, I should play and play golf and then he started to cry also the mister but Tino was really a genius and a regular one with the qualities of Tino Aspriglia could play in Madrid, Juventus, Milan, Barcelona all the most powerful teams in the world because at that time it was impossible it was difficult to leave everything to go to Torino? yes, it was not easy It was not easy because I'm always playing for ambition, a little bit personal, but I don't have ever been the main thing. principale l 'ambizione la mia cosa principale è dare un senso alle cose che facevo e dare un valore sentimentale al mio essere calciatore e quindi per me il Parma rappresentava tantissimo e doverlo lasciare in un momento nel quale si vedeva che ci stavamo ridimensionando che il Parma era qualcosa che mi faceva male al cuore, però è anche vero che in quel momento io avevo 23 anni e purtroppo la mia carriera doveva prendere un boost diverso.

23:38and when I was in Juventus my father and my procurator told me that there were these teams there were the Roma, I remember the Barcelona the Juve even the Manchester United with Ferguson I followed my friends all the days from his brother I remember it there were a phone? no, they always came to Parma and I remember that my father and my procurator and they said, but Gigi, if you want to follow us, that we love you, go to Juventus, because for your career, for your future, for your formation, it will be the best. And then I followed them and I said they had the right. So it was. Yes, so it was.

24:24But a young Italian talent would be the same decision? No, now it changed the world. Now it changed the world. a young Italian man now, I think, he doesn't feel the Milan, the Inter, the Juventus, the Roma as the final point of his career, as the approach, as the arrival, but I think he feels like a passage for then maybe to go to Real Madrid and then, in my time, to go to Juventus meant to go to the best club in the world. Together with Milan, Real Madrid, but they were all there. And so it changed a lot.

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26:57This is the Totally Football Show. Part of the Athletic FC Podcast Network. The Athletic is the only place you can read articles by Daniel Taylor, Amy Lawrence, Phil Hay, James Pierce, Oli Kay and the very best football writers around. Two years after that debut with Parma, there was a national match, which was in particular circumstances, in Moscow, in one of the most jealous sessions I've ever heard, like at least 15 years or more. Italy was playing the Spareggio Italy against Russia If you blew it, you'd miss the World Cup Can you imagine? Italy at the time, that was unthinkable Missing a World Cup So, you were in the bench And Pagliuca was the title And then at half an hour In a horrible condition Fango, snow Yes, yes, yes All right, then he did not hurt you.

28:04Yes. And you entered. Yes. And what part you remember in every detail? I remember the first time. When I entered, until the first time, I remember very well. Because when the coach turned to me and told me, Gigi, you need to enter, I started a little bit from the head that arrived at the caviglie because it was the only game that I would never want to play. But not for the conditions of the field. There was a snow, it was incredible cold. I was in the middle of an hour in the panchina to get me. And when he said it was like, it was a tragedy. But as in all times of great difficulty, I found out in me the resources to react.

29:04The first thing I did was when I said this, I said, okay, Mr. I took the tuta, I took the pants and I was in the field with the maglion, with the short calzon, I said, go in the field. And all of us were looking at this point, and said, this is crazy. But that was a way to give me a car, to tell myself that you are different from the others, you don't have to feel cold, you take it and you have to win. And so for me, I found an emotional way to react to a difficult difficulty. Gigi, how difficult is for a player to play in the neve? No, it's difficult. But now it's not anymore. It's not anymore because there are no camps in the heat.

29:56And if in the case of snow, they'll cover it first until the last minute and then they'll cover it. But at the time, it was difficult to play with the neve. Because the ball always gets from the hands and then always gets out. Cioè, alcune volte schizza e alcune volte si ferma. Per cui non sai mai quale sarà il rimbalzo. Cioè, come giocare con la pallina magica. Non sai mai dove va, cosa succede. Ma c 'era l 'arancione in quella serata. Non mi ricordo. Era arancione? Sì, sì. Eh beh, doveva essere perché veramente una fitta nevica, diciamo. Beh, è andato bene. 1-1 lì, poi a Napoli 3-1. 1-0. 1-0 a Napoli Casiraghi Allora, comunque l 'Italia è riuscita ad andare al mondiale 98 e adesso chiaramente siamo in altri tempi, sono tre mondiali di seguito che l 'Italia non è riuscito a qualificarsi e l 'ultimo tu sei stato proprio lì come head of delegation tutti hanno of theory because this nation that has won 4 titles now cannot be qualified what do you think?

31:26I think that certainly the football has changed so and really the squadron that once once you hit easily, now you're making it hard to get them. Why? Because there is a division of knowledge, of data, of everything that makes that who before had not had knowledge of certain things, now he has. Totally. Sia of instruments, that is all about training, of recovery, of all things. Then I think that we are the nation that has more advantage in front of others. Second me, we, tattically, until 20 years ago, we were two spanned. Second me, we, in the past, we won the talent, we were more than others.

32:32We were really more relaxed, we were even more focused, in a way maybe not positive. But I think now with all this globalization that there was, the Italian player will be able to do it in a part, the Italian player will come in Italy, so I think from the point of view of the tactical, everything is leveled, non c 'è più differenza anzi, spesso e volentieri trovo degli allenatori stranieri che sono in alcuni casi anche superiori a quello che si vede in Italia e quindi una volta non lo trovavi mai un allenatore straniero più evoluto di uno italiano non lo trovavi sì, ma lui è mezzo italiano e poi chiaramente si dice che manca il talento io non so se manca il talento perché io credo che noi il talento ce l 'abbiamo credo che Donnarumma sia un talento credo che Calafiori sia un talento credo che Bastoni sia un talento che Tonali sia un talento che Barella Giovanni Leoni io credo che realmente ci sono due grandi cambiamenti quello tattico e poi il fatto che sono cambiati the rules in the qualification one time we were qualified more easily this year we lost the first part of the Girone with the Norwich and we already knew that we didn't have qualified as the first that we were going to, if it went well, playoff and in a Girone when you lose a game you say you're not more qualified it seems a bit too Brazil has lost 6 in the qualification there was something I think is.

34:28I saw some information, did I use it, if I missed some of my менее I never knew they were 18 or 17 uniforms or they were hiring 32 for example, five clubs in the schwierig macedonian In the North Bosnia. Exactly. But I think it's the World. Now, if you look at the nationalities of every continent, there are many. Once there were three African, two African. Now there are, as it is, there are many for every continent. So it's normal that the places for Europe are a little reduced. And this makes it so that if you lose a game, then you risk staying out of the world, this is it. Then, I think it's a great difference, and I think it's also a psychological difference.

35:28If I remember in 1998, we were going to do the war with Russia, but the serenity we had was enormous. We knew we could do that part, but we didn't take into consideration the idea that we would not be qualified. So for us it was, we were, we were, we were going to play this practice and we were home. Now, instead, you begin to face the playoff that you will win or not win. So it's a mental situation completely different. It's a way to approach this challenge. Okay. Let's talk about things more happy. I'm happy. But Gigi, I'm a Englishman. I'm English, I'm 42 years old, he was born in 1966. We are English, we never saw our national league win nothing.

36:24Even in this period, in the last 20 years, when there is, in quotes, the decline of the Italian football, the national league has won the World 20 years ago, has won a European only 5 years ago. And it's a disaster. I know very well that there are some problems in Italian but for example for an Englishman who has never seen a national Englishman win something, I think it's... ...maschile. ...maschile, yes. When I read Italian newspapers that often... ...that they often say... ...that they often say... of these young young Italian youth who never saw the national national at the World, but this generation has seen the national win something here.

37:15Yes, it is true. And instead there is a negativity that, which is an obstacle for these young people of Italian players. Yes, I think too. I think it is very negative to make it and players and players and the football world that maybe in this moment we are in difficulty because we know it but continue to say continue to say it doesn't help and not solve the problem and not help and secondarily it's true that England won't win for a lot but it's also true that England apart from the 1994 if I'm not mistaken has always participated and well or not has always gotten good results then maybe it's missing the final that is the victory but it's always been a competitive squad that every time that begins a competition England said that England is a squad that you have to be careful and so, I think this gives you more autostima it gives you a lot of confidence But the others are afraid of us.

38:31They know that you are a strong team. And probably this is enough. Yes. But I would have to change some failure for a cup in my generation. One day from Leone. Let's talk about those days from Leone in Germany in 2006.

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40:55You're listening to The Totally Football Show with James Richardson. Now we do four times a week. Keep up to date with us on Insta and enjoy some glorious Technicolor on YouTube at The Totally Show. Nel libro, out this Thursday, Saved, parli dei giorni primi del Coppa del Monde in 2006, perché c 'è stato uno dei più grandi avvenimenti della storia del calcio italiano. Juve, the biggest squadron involved in this enormous scandal of the Calciopoli. There was so much emotion, so much horror, so much, no? Is it a relief to escape from this, if I can use that word, and reunite with the Usuri in Germany?

41:44Well, that was a very delicate moment for the Juventus, for the players, and I think also for the Italian football. Because, beyond what one can think of us, to get closer to a with a similar confusion, with a all-one against everyone, because at the end there were journalists that attack the Juve, others attack other teams, then they started on the players, on me, on Cannavaro, on the team, so we are really prepared for that in conditions difficult. But one thing is true, that thanks to the group that we had, of people, of guys, that we already knew from the various under, and so there is a very deep relationship, I would say that we felt from the group a defense, Cioè non ci sentivamo soli alla fine e per un giocatore, per una persona che sta in un gruppo, non sentirsi solo, sentirsi difeso dagli altri, sentirsi difeso dall 'allenatore, dalla federazione, ha significato tanto.

43:17And I think these accusations, these cattiveries that have offended us personally, have made us that in certain moments, during the World Cup, we would have taken out that anger, that cattiveries that we had to have suffered a lot of experience, from the point of view mediatic. That group, let's talk a little bit about how it was to be with those guys, Fabio Cannavaro you know from Panama to Juve. Francesco Totti you had known in Turchia? Under 15. You had 14 years old and he... We had 15 years old, I was 15 and he was 16. And you became friends? Yes, with Francesco we were always very connected.

44:10then with Francesco we never felt like we were talking about it, but there is a connection that when you see you immediately you embrace and you feel close to it. It's something that's not understandable, something that's really natural. Because we have shared, in my opinion, the most beautiful and healthy part of our career. When you're a young man, you have many dreams in your head, you have much desire, much desire to be able to make your dreams. And I and he are part together. so, hand-in-hand, so, so. And so, this thing, I think, will be close and united forever. And he wanted to go to Rome, no?

45:06Yes, yes, yes, I can say, he was a great sponsor for going to Rome, but unfortunately, Unfortunately, it didn't have been done because, in my opinion, I chose the Juventus. I believe that if I went to any other company, I wouldn't have had the capacity to stay so long on the crest of the wave. That's why the Juve, how you form it, even from the point of view of the mentality, of the professionalism, is a really unique thing. Gigi, in Germany, in 2006, what are the best memories? The best memories? The best memories of that month, you want to tell me? The best memories of that month is when the arbitrage has finished the end and has finished the World Cup.

46:03Wow. Because for me that was the moment in which I started to breathe. Because we arrived in retirement, we said, we have problems, accusations, confusion, attacks personal, calcistic, of every kind. You prepare for the World, which is the most important event for a player, and then for how you feel in Italy, with an opinion public very morbidly. So you enter in a car arm, practically, for 45 days. When you have the tensions of the game, you win or you win, you pass the turn, you play Dortmund against Germany, supplementary, supplementary with France, I have a lot of emotions that I can't handle.

47:06And so when we finished the World, despite the fact that we won, I was even more happy. But even if we had won, I was happy that I was finished. Because I was really tired. I was tired at the level of nervousness, at the level of everything. and that was the most beautiful moment when I finished because I really couldn't I couldn't anymore that game against Germany the world in Germany is playing against Germany for a place in the final and in the stadium with the most strong tifo that there was Westphalen Dortmund that was, I think In my opinion, in the follia, every time we talk to the boys, or I think I do alone, we have made an impression, because winning in Germany in that stadium, in a semi-finale, so believe me, is difficult.

48:07Really, we Italians have many defects, but we have also peculiarities, I think, precise. And how we can be a group of people, We can fight together with us in difficult difficulties. And we also gave that demonstration of unique force. That is incredible. But why did I say this? Because in the end, for us to have won with Germany, and all Italians who live in Germany were proud of us, it was like having already won the World, but unfortunately it was not so, because still man was still a game. So if we had not done the final act, we would have won with Germany, but then we would have been with the remark in the mouth, but it was not bad that it was finished well.

49:06You have talked about the pressure and the tension of that period, but did it help to have in the field a player like Andrea Pirlo, which is outside, seems to play without pressure. Yes, it's true. Andrea, the feeling that he gives is that, but it's true. It's true. He is a man, a champion, whatever you want, He has an autostima, a confidence, a conscious sense of what he can do, of what he is, of what he can do, of what he can do. And so he, with all this gift that he has been, he has been able to do what he wants. and he doesn't feel pressure if anything comes to the head in the field he takes it and does it and does it and often and does it always do it so having one like him helps a lot especially when the game is cold and becomes a little confusion you know that you have one to give the ball and that for 10 seconds we're tranquillin everyone can do what he wants 10 seconds of freedom and everyone else will do what they want France had players players for example in the end you want to tell what?

50:47France was very strong what you do is that we have won in a state of total consciousness because we were really strong as a group but also as a player But there is a moment that you win the game and you get that confidence that you think is imbattable. It's been a moment that we thought about Brazil, France, Portugal, because we have taken awareness and confidence. But then when you see France again regarding that formation, you say we made an impression. because, according to me, that France had players who had physically, technically, experience experience. They were of a extraordinary level.

51:38The fact that we, instead, we had faced the race with the unconscious of who said no, we won, because we thought we would win, even if it was difficult, but, according to me, we did not put it well as strong as France was. France was extraordinary. And then, to the rigs? Yes. How did you go before the start of the shootout? Because the rigour was a speciality. Yes, it's true. I was calm because I thought I would win. Once I got into the rigour, I said to myself, one or two, I'll win. If I have four guys, we won. And then we're okay with an interesting situation. Remember being a big record, the first round I came from my head and puzzled I kept the first giraffe.

52:34All the first three three-point, but if it was a SOB to me, that the first few rounds he dropped me. My first vày record I pulled, and, at my head, I began to so absorb this thing, because I gave for scontato that in the first two or three, one would have won one or two. And this thing here is something that surprised me. And then, unfortunately, I was lucky that the boys had beaten well and they also allowed me to win. Because you, in my career, have stopped one on three. 1 su 3 1 su 3 1 su 3 Sì 1 su 3 Che è una media incredibile Sì è stata una media buona C 'è un motivo che riuscivi a fare così bene?

53:30Guarda non Allora Ti dico la verità Gli ultimi 15 anni secondo me Per i portieri Sotto certi aspetti è un po' più facile Perché Hai la possibilità di Poterti preparare bene Ecco Perché ci sono tante informazioni when I started playing in the 90's until 2007 2008 was almost all intuitive there was no knowledge of how and where you were and you went very to intuit in the book there is a quote of a goalkeeper in coach William Vecchi che diceva the penalty or any one-on-one with the goalkeeper is equivalent to shooting someone who is having a shit. That's in English. I don't know how it was in Italian, but it's a joke.

54:32No, this great coach, because he was a great coach that now he passed away and he I always say, for scherz to say, that when there was a rigor, if you were a good guy, you were a great guy. Because in the end, the rigor, if you think, is like shooting at one who is on the bed, which is making... It's difficult to save, almost always, and that's what's going on. It was a way that I remember it all because it made me cry. This image, here you go. So, world champion. And the very next game for you, Gigi, was in the second division in Italy, away to Rimini. We'll get on to why next.

55:30So, immediately after the World Cup, there's a decision to make. the Juve was being retrocessed because of the calciopoli and Zambrotto, Cannavaro, Ibra, all of them are gone but Buffon decided to make a championship in the series B because? because at the end I did it like this This I've said at the beginning and this is the confirmation that I've played for an ambition, but it wasn't the only thing I've played. I've said to be able to give every time some signals to the people, to the fans, to the people who follow us, I was able to say that I was not scontating, that I was strong, in which one would say, why did I do that?

56:31And, in my opinion, I was staying in Serie B with the Juve, I was something that I felt inside. I was able to do it, to give in a difficult moment, force to a society that, a few years ago, had invested so much in me. to give more confidence to the people, to the fans of Juve. If I was going to go, I think this project and this idea of future would not be so rose. In fact, I think I was remained, I think, was confidence and strength to the environment of Juve. And then, for some time, for giving others, but also to you, the idea of who you are and how you are, you have to do something. Because if you are too much, I am, he is...

57:36No, per poter dire io sono, devi fare qualcosa e spesso e volentieri devi rinunciare alla gloria e ai soldi. E io facendo quello ho rinunciato a tre anni, almeno nei miei anni migliori, perché dai 28 ai 30, 31, 32 come Juventus non siamo più tornati in Champions League da protagonisti. Ok, e quindi ho rinunciato a tanto della mia carriera. E in più anche i soldi, perché sono andato in Serie B e in più mi sono tolto anche i soldi. to go in Serie B. So I think that I have a more clear and inoculatory than that, according to me, I have a lot of trouble. But it's something that I've made to go out.

58:16I know that if I was going out from Juventus that year, I wouldn't have been doing it with me. Because I would have felt I would have felt I would have felt with my consciousness. And I would have felt very well. I would have done it in Serie B, I would have done it in the end. I will still do it. For me it was like this. You have done it at the end. You have done it with Parma. At the time you said Buffon I never won a championship in Serie B. Yes, it is true. There are still people who think so? For example, here in England there is the case Tottenham. If Tottenham is in the process, honestly I would be surprised if the players the most important players Tottenham remain for an year in Serie B here in England.

59:07Because, as you said, you don't just give a year of the most important championship, you also give two years from the Champions League or three years from the Champions League. So, do you think there was a change of thought from this generation of players? Alex, for example, has been like you. He has given us the money to remain at Juve. All right, I tell you this. I tell you that has changed so much the football and has changed the way of thinking of society. Because then, often, the blame is always the player. But but many times it's also the society that brings the player to make that type of choice because it is convenient to me, you know?

1:00:06I'm remained in the Juve in Serie B, but in the day in which I decided to remain, and I told him to the director that was at the time, the first thing when I was entered in the team, they told me Gigi, then we have this opportunity to go here, here, here, here, no? and my answer was why can't I leave? because and they were surprised i'm going to answer so because in their hands there was already the idea that Gigi goes away spend a few dollars and we are going to do it the fact that I have said so I'm convinced that I have made a pleasure but from a certain point of view I've also had difficulty because at that point if I went away it was not my choice It was a choice of the society that thought it was more convenient that it would go away.

1:01:01So many times it's almost always the blame to the player, but it's not always so. CJ, you wanted to be strong for the Juve after you were back in Serie A, But then it became very strong. In a period in which the football game was not so successful, the Juve was able to go to the championship championship twice in three years. And then there was a passage in the book where you refer to the game against Barcelona a Berlin and the feeling is that everyone was watching the Juve and thinking but who are these? Because these play with the Juve. But the Juve was very strong in that period. 7 consecutive titles with Conte and then Allegri.

1:02:03Yes, we have won 9 consecutive titles. No, I have to say that the Juve is started in 2011. When it arrived Antonio Conte, you had the feeling, even we players, that the Juve was going to be back. Then it happened that year, not a case, that we won the Scudetto and this has given us more confidence and made it accorchere the times of increase. But the feeling that with Antonio Conte we could go back to think in a way we had the players immediately. And the thing that we liked so much, because it was tangible, it was a touch. And then I would say that that year in which we have won the Scudetto, we have won the second year and so we have given it force, I can say that even at the European level we have become convinced, convinced of being strong and being afraid.

1:03:17And at the end of the time it is a situation even psychological, that is being convinced of being strong and being afraid of others. It is something that makes you feel even more strong than what you really are. and we that year even thanks to Allegri because then Conte is gone by we have done two finals and the lucky the big deal is that that is the first finals you play with the Barcelona and it's a very strong probably the most strong in the last 20 years and you put out the Real Madrid in the end. Two years later, you can get the Real Madrid, which is a very strong Madrid and put out the Barcelona in the end.

1:04:11That is a little bit, I have to say the truth, but I think the years in which we were going to be in the end, first the Real Madrid in the end and then the in Barcellona, secondo me, abbiamo fatto un 'impresa. Perché noi eravamo forti, ma loro erano più forti di noi. Almeno in quei due anni lì. E il gruppo, forse? Sì. No, eravamo... Noi eravamo un gruppo, avevamo una mentalità, avevamo una determinazione, ecco, di voler arrivare fino in fondo, capito? Perché poi, come valori, noi eravamo una grande squadra, ma loro avevano qualcosina in più di noi. the spirit of society was respirated it was a whole ensemble that trophy the Champions League never took it but in the book there is another beautiful thing the sorella see over time I have learned that victory matters less than what comes before it is the journey that feeds the emotion it's true, no Gigi?

1:05:21the truth is what I think because when I think we have lost, I have lost many finales, but I have been many emotions and many emotions, often happy because you can get to the final you have to pass the turn, you have to beat the eighth of the final, the fourth of the final, the semifinal and are all emotions that make you feel happy then you lose the final but you know a man in sport can win a final because you're more happy but you can lose happens it doesn't matter that I disturb I mean not to win the championship a champion, it doesn't make me feel less good than what I was doing, no, I feel good the same way, both if I won, as if I won as if I won, what I'm sorry is for the people, for the players, yes, for the players yes, that I'm very happy and it's a great remark that I have, but for me myself it's not a problem, the truth is that, I'm good, I don't know but it's...

1:06:37You have come a long way from your gardening gloves, come si dice gardening gloves? I think we probably need to be... Giardiniere. Yes, le guanti dei giardiniere. Cos 'è la cosa che ti manca di più del calcio, se c 'è una cosa? Allora, del calcio, del calcio no, il calcio non è che mi mancano gli esami, because in the end the soccer game at the level in which I have played there is an exam every three days and that one you need to do? it is the thing that you need that is the thing that is the thing that I have played for those who have played a certain level you will not to anyone you will need to every three days you have an exam and in that exam you always have to respond present.

1:07:37It's a constant pressure. You pass up and down, up and down, two days tranquillo, third day, boom. Yes, exactly. That's what I feel that I'm missing, but it's normal. I think it's normal. The real, according to me, difficult, and I can say, even now, even now, the my bravery, is to be accepting this, to be aware that this is. I'm sure not that I'm here and I'm thinking I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm like if I had played. No, I'm saying there are those things that were powerful and that they can't be missing. They can't be for sure if they've been missing. But I'm sure I'm doing it.

1:08:23That's why life is going forward and you can live it even with tones less open, a little more tenuous this is important to accept life and the next challenge? the next challenge? I don't know, I can be any type of challenge I don't feel a poliedristic and I feel one that can't do programs long-term because at the end I'm an instinct I go where I like the sensation where I see that there can be an emotional powerful then if it will be in the football it's fine I'll be happy but even outside the football there's life and there are beautiful emotions to be able to live and beautiful challenges to be able to face Gigi Buffon saved it's not right now Gigi, thank you very much for being here today it's been a great pleasure thank you

1:09:28you've been listening to the totally football show part of the athletic fc podcast network for other great podcasts just like this one including the athletic fc and our dedicated club podcasts search for the athletic in all the usual places we're also at the totally show on insta and at the totally show on youtube the totally football show is an athletic media company production

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