Italy legend Gigi Buffon admits “we really were in trouble” against France in the World Cup final, before Zinedine Zidane was sent off.
The Azzurri won the trophy in 2006, with the goalkeeper making a crucial save from Zizou in extra time.
The midfielder was then dismissed for headbutting Marco Materazzi.
“That’s definitely one of my most important saves, because that was the most important match of my career,” Buffon confirmed to Canal Plus.
Italy legend Gigi Buffon admits “we really were in trouble” against France in the World Cup final, before Zinedine Zidane was sent off.
The Azzurri won the trophy in 2006, with the goalkeeper making a crucial save from Zizou in extra time.
The midfielder was then dismissed for headbutting Marco Materazzi.
“That’s definitely one of my most important saves, because that was the most important match of my career,” Buffon confirmed to Canal Plus.
“So it’s a save I’m really attached to, and in the end it didn’t cost you [the French] too much because you’d won the World Cup eight years before and you did it again 12 years later!
“At that moment we were a crazy team and we really thought we’d win against anyone. Today though, when I look at the players who were playing for France at the time I wonder how we were able to win, because at that point France were so strong.
“I remember well the moment of the match [where Zidane was sent off], we were really… I looked at my teammates and we were really running on empty.
“When Zizou did what he did I reacted as a sportsman, I was waiting for a moment like that to help up because we really were in trouble.” It was then put to Buffon that he is at Paris Saint-Germain to share his experience with the squad.
“We are talking about me and, to tell the truth, I don’t like to speak about myself. I have to be honest though, the thing that I put forward most when deciding to come here was to be the friendliest and most humble of anyone, to earn respect.
“I didn't want to come in and start barking orders saying ‘I’m Buffon’ and all that. I’m like all the others, and if I want to be regarded well then it’s up to the others, not me.”
Will the 40-year-old play on next season?
“It’s possible, but I take things one week at a time. At 40 that’s all you can do, live little-by-little.
“I’m very happy in France, I don’t know why, maybe because of the rivalry with Italy, but everyone I’ve met has been really friendly and well mannered.
“I’ve been to Brittany, to Normandy and the Côte d’Azur and France really is an exceptional country. I’m pleased to have discovered that.”