The Juventus shot-stopper showed his frustration at conceding a late goal, and advised his team to avoid making such foolish mistakes during important matches.
Many would have forgiven the Italian side for conceding a late goal against the Germans in the semi-finals of the European Championships. Many would have overlooked the incident altogether, given that the Italians progressed into the final to be played out
in Kiev.
However, the matter did not get past the Azzurri veteran who did not hold back his anger and disappointment at conceding such a late goal in such an important match.
La Nazionale had dominated the match throughout and could have won by a bigger margin had it not been for some inefficient finishing by their attackers and midfielders. The Azzurri skipper felt that it was inviting unnecessary pressure to the team, and given
the stakes, they should not be slacking off in the last five minutes of the match.
He further stated that they need to be more thorough and professional in their approach of playing and not take on risks during the match. The Juventus skipper went on to state:
“We are playing for something unique and totally prestigious, so it’s not right with the performance we put in to risk it in the last five minutes and play with fire.”
The goalkeeper went on to state that there is always the room for the unexpected in football, and by handling the ball and giving away a penalty, they are only toying with further mishaps.
Despite their victory, he mentioned that the attitudes mattered the most during wins and losses, and it is the duty of the experienced players to impart their knowledge to the inexperienced. He remarked:
“I always evaluate performances and attitudes rather than strictly wins or losses. We are still young, apart from a few old men in the squad, and need to learn. It’s only right for the old men to tell them off and stir up trouble.”
However, despite his criticisms, he was content with their football in general, as the Italians dominated the match after going ahead from Mario Balotelli’s header past Neuer.
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