Cesare Prandelli praised his Italy side and Gigi Buffon after clinching the Confederations Cup bronze medal.
They beat Uruguay on penalties after a 2-2 draw, having already gone to a shoot-out against Spain on Thursday night.
Cesare Prandelli praised his Italy side and Gigi Buffon after clinching the Confederations Cup bronze medal.
They beat Uruguay on penalties after a 2-2 draw, having already gone to a shoot-out against Spain on Thursday night.
“It is a more than positive tournament because this team showed great character. On 30 June after a long season these lads were so generous,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“We deserved this result with some good performances and have been getting more consistent as time went on. For the first time in my career I couldn’t figure out what to do, as eight players wanted to be substituted.
“We suffered, stayed in the game and then the penalties are always a bit of a lottery.”
Buffon saved three spot-kicks during the shoot-out, silencing those who had criticised him for his record from penalties.
“In Italy people say so many ridiculous things. Penalties can be saved or not, but the problem is that people assume it’s easy to save a spot-kick,” continued Prandelli.
“Gigi is a great goalkeeper who again proved tonight how much he cares about the shirt.”
Leonardo Bonucci missed the penalty against Spain in the semi-final, but was prepared to take another.
“Bonucci said he was ready for it, but we put him seventh on the list…”