175 caps after 20 years, nine tournaments and one World Cup medal… but play-off heartache reminds us sport adheres to no script
An international career that began two decades ago in a Moscow blizzard ended with the even greater chill of failure for Gianluigi Buffon.
The legendary goalkeeper wept as it was confirmed Italy will not be returning to Russia next summer to bring one of the great footballing lives full circle.
The deflected Jakob Johansson strike that beat him in Stockholm last Friday night proved decisive as Italy’s forward fired blanks on a night of despair at the San Siro.
Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup means a premature international retirement for their legendary goalkeeper of 175 caps, Gianluigi Buffon
The 39-year-old legend couldn’t contain his emotions as Italy failed to make the finals in Russia
Buffon cut a heart-broken figure at the final whistle as Italy could only draw 0-0 with Sweden
A tearful Buffon had to be consoled after his international career came to an abrupt end
It was one of the frequent reminders that sports adheres to no script, however romantic the notion of 39-year-old Buffon bowing out on football’s biggest stage.
For the first time in 60 years, the World Cup will go on without them.
‘The End’ screamed the headline on the front cover of Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport, which pictured a tearful Buffon against a black background to reflect the mood of a football-obsessed nation now in mourning.
