Buffon: we will learn from Confed Cup mistakes
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said his team wont repeat its mistakes from the Confederations Cup if the defending champions return to South Africa for the World Cup next year.
Marcello Lippis side exited in the first stage following defeats to Egypt and Brazil. Italys only win was a 3-1 victory against United States.
This type of competition serves to test the team and shows the mistakes we cant make at the World Cup in 2010, Buffon wrote on his personal Web site. Next year, we will be at our best and the group of players will be ready.
Lippi knows he can count on everyone; both those of us who won the World Cup in Germany three years ago and the others who have come into the squad.
Italy currently leads Group 8 in European qualifying, one point above Ireland with a game in hand. The team next plays away to Georgia and then at home to Bulgaria before traveling to Ireland for the next-to-last qualifier.
Unfortunately, it didnt go as we would have liked and how we all would have hoped, Buffon said. Our adventure in the Confederations Cup finished too soon, but we are trying to look on the positive side.
However, it is better for it to have happened now and not in the World Cup or a European Championship. I dont want to make excuses, but we really didnt arrive in the right physical condition - we were only at 60 percent.
