Gigi Buffon hopes being in Paris can give Italy some of the Olympic spirit they were lacking at EURO 2024. ‘We need to rediscover the performance and our soul’ against France.
The Nations League opener kicks off at Parc des Princes on Friday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
In the build-up to the big event, some members of the Azzurri delegation visited the Paralympic team representing Italy in the city, winning medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Buffon told reporters that he hopes their attitude can rub off on the Italy players, especially the “desire to push beyond your limitations and not feel sorry for yourself.”
The Nazionale will then face Israel on neutral turf in Budapest on Monday evening.
Buffon wants a new Italy attitude
“We must rediscover some results, or at least the performance and our soul, which had been there up until the Euros with some good results and showings. The first three matches in the European Championship were not easy, we were in the toughest group, but still managed to go through in second place.
“Then we fell apart at the most important moment, giving a bad impression of ourselves. That is something we need to put behind us as soon as possible. In that sense, tomorrow’s match could be the right opportunity to send a strong signal.”
Italy crashed out of EURO 2024 in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland, where they hardly tested Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
