BOCHUM, Germany -- The guys who keep the ball out of the net after all else
breaks down could decide this World Cup. If so, Italy might have the edge with
Gianluigi Buffon.
The Italians have allowed one goal in five games, and that was an own-goal
against the U.S. Not that opponents haven't had chances.
But Buffon, on his third World Cup team, has been either solid or
spectacular. His work against the Czech Republic in the opening round and
Ukraine in the quarterfinals was reminiscent of some of Italy's greatest
goalkeepers, from A (Enrico Albertosi on the 1970 finalist) to Z (Dino Zoff on
the 1982 champions).
"It seemed like the Czechs didn't have much respect for me, otherwise they
wouldn't have tried to beat me so many times," Buffon said with a laugh after
making eight saves.
And Ukraine star striker Andriy Shevchenko called Buffon "the greatest
goalkeeper in the world" after some superb stops in the round of eight.
Buffon's performances have been even more impressive considering what's
happening back home. The match-fixing scandal has also focused on illegal
betting, with Buffon's name prominently mentioned. The club he backstopped to
the last two Serie A championships, Juventus, could wind up being relegated to a
lower division.
There's no telling what might happen to Buffon, who has acknowledged betting
on other sports.
"This was a much more complicated training camp than in past World Cups or
European Championships," Buffon said.
Yet he's been the dominant keeper in the tournament. Certainly Germany's Jens
Lehmann, Portugal's Ricardo Pereira and France's Fabien Barthez have had their
moments -- particularly Lehmann and Pereira in penalty-kick shootouts -- but
Buffon has been the biggest standout at the toughest position in soccer.
His reaction to such praise?
"You need to sweat through seven shirts to beat Italy," he said, turning the
compliments to his defense and midfield.
The Germans get the next shot -- they hope more than one -- at Buffon on
Tuesday night in Dortmund. The winner moves on to Sunday's final in Berlin.
Lehmann isn't standing behind an experienced defense the way Buffon and
Barthez are. Indeed, the back line was considered a weakness for Germany heading
into the tournament, and now the Germans must play Italy without versatile
midfield stalwart Torsten Frings, who was suspended for punching Argentina
forward Julio Cruz in a fracas following their quarterfinals match.
The German defense has improved throughout the World Cup, however, and
Lehmann has anchored it with several brilliant saves. He outfoxed Argentina in
the quarterfinals shootout, and he kept Poland from an upset in the opening
round.
Lehmann, the regular at Arsenal who lost the Champions League final 2-1 to
Barcelona, has made coach Juergen Klinsmann's controversial selection of him
over 2002 hero Oliver Kahn look like a no-brainer.
"The penalties are always a matter of nerves and experience. And we have a
very experienced goalkeeper in Lehmann," Klinsmann said. "I was a striker and I
wouldn't want to face him."
Barthez faced pretournament favorite Brazil in the quarterfinals, and the way
France played, he could have used a lounge chair. Still, in the final moments,
he stopped Ronaldo's attempt at a tying goal.
Perhaps more significant than his saves is his vocal communications and his
leadership. Barthez, the backbone of the 1998 champions, was chosen over Lyon's
Gregory Coupet as the starter in a situation similar to Germany's.
The thought of benching such an intricate piece of the veteran squad -- he is
very close with Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Patrick Vieira, other key
members of the title run eight years ago -- was too much for coach Raymond
Domenech. He even discusses strategy with the keeper.
