Sports/Olympics / Soccer
Buffon wins Yashin award
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-10 17:14
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has won the Lev Yashin Award for the
best goalkeeper at the FIFA World Cup finals.
Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon makes a stop during their World Cup 2006 final
soccer match against France in Berlin July 9, 2006.[Reuters]
Italy, who won the 2006 World Cup title on Sunday night, conceded only
two goals in their seven matches in Germany. The first was an own goal in
the 1-1 draw with the United States in the group stage. The other was a
penalty made by France playmaker Zinedine Zidane in the final.
Buffon, the Juventus star, is a worthy successor to Belgium’s legendary
Michel Preud’ Homme, flamboyant French keeper Fabien Barthez and
Germany’s Oliver Kahn, the Yashin award winners in 1994, 1998 and 2002
respectively.
Buffon has been singled out as a potential all-time great ever since
making his Serie A debut at tender age of 17 years and nine months.
Buffon wasted no time in making his mark at Germany 2006. Buffon’s
acrobatics in his side’s opening game against Ghana were ample proof of
his full recovery from the potentially career-threatening shoulder injury
suffered at the beginning of the 2005/06 season.
Despite having to endure a number of other knocks and niggles throughout
the campaign, Buffon timed his return to full fitness perfectly, hitting
top form to help the Vecchia Signora clinch the league title and the
Azzurri lift the FIFA World Cup.
Buffon’s toughest test came in the group game against Czech Republic,
going head-to-head with Juventus club-mate Pavel Nedved. After an
intriguing duel, it was the keeper who came out on top, keeping a clean
sheet in Italy’s 2-0 win.
In one of the highlights of Italy’s campaign, Buffon ran the length of
field to celebrate with his team-mates after Marco Materazzi’s opener
against Czech Republic. With the benefit of hindsight, this was the first
sign that an indomitable team spirit was being forged among the members
of Marcello Lippi’s squad.
In the Final itself, Buffon overcame the blow of conceding an early
Zinedine Zidane penalty to put in an exemplary display, typified in the
second half when he tipped over a goalbound Zidane header. Not may would
argue against the fact that Buffon is a worthy FIFA World Cup winner and
a deserved recipient of the Lev Yashin Award.
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