What we'll miss at FIFA 2018: Buffon's acrobatics, Bernardeschi's passes and tattoos

The last time Italy did not play a World Cup (1958), Narendra Modi was eight years old. Here are the Italian stars and moods we will miss in Russia next year.

Gianluigi Buffon

The tainted but skilled goalkeeper turns 40 next year. Dino Zoff was the same age, and also a goalkeeper, when he led Italy to a triumph in the Paolo Rossi World Cup of 1982. Buffon would have loved to emulate Zoff. Thankfully, he has a World Cup trophy to his credit (2006).

What we will miss: Buffon’s acrobatics under the bar and the experience that comes from being Italy’s most capped player (175 matches).

Trivia: Buffon wears short sleeve shirts, a rarity for goalkeepers. “It’s just something that I’ve always done, right from the time I first started playing in goal,” he said once. “It always felt good. And now look, lots of goalkeepers do it. I’ve started a fashion.”


Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, left, and Federico Bernardeschi react to their team's elimination in the World Cup qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Italy and Sweden. (Image: AP)

Federico Bernardeschi

The 23-year-old striker is the glamour boy of the team. His limbs are covered with tattoos. And he was dating Veronica Ciardi, a supermodel nine years his senior. Football wise, ‘Berna’ is a versatile talent who can play in different positions. A proof of his ability is the fact that he is the youngest No.10 in the history of his club, Fiorentina.

What we will miss: Great passes, great tattoos.

Trivia: Berna comes from the same village as Buffon.

Lorenzo Insigne


(Image: Reuters)

No player was discussed more after Italy’s debacle. The 26-year-old is one of the nation’s most gifted players. Yet, he was sidelined by coach Giampiero Ventura in some crucial qualifiers, including the do-or-die battle against Sweden at the San Siro.

What we will miss: A 5’4” David — the same size as Victoria Beckham — taking on Goliaths with his wizardry.

Trivia: Italians are not a restrained lot. Their nickname for Insigne is Lorenzo Il Magnifi co.

Giorgio Chiellini


Sweden's Marcus Rohden, left, and Italy's Giorgio Chiellini vie for the ball during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Sweden. (Image: AP)

Big George’s clash with ‘Jaws’ Luis Suarez at the last World Cup was one of the bizarre moments in football history. But there is a reason Suarez sunk his teeth into Chiellini’s shoulder.

Strong and 6-feet-two-inches tall, Chiellini is a difficult defender to shake off, at times forcing strikers to adopt violent measures to get past him.

What we will miss: The sight of a solid, old-fashioned centre-back manning the defence. And the possibility of Suarez-Chiellini, The Sequel

Trivia: This year, Chiellini completed his MBA with honours.

Daniele de Rossi
The defensive midfielder provided one of the highlights of the clash against Sweden. But not a happy one.

When asked by a coaching staff member to warm up late into the match, de Rossi questioned the logic of the decision and said a forward was the need of the hour, not a defender.

What we will miss: Moments of candour, not to mention goal-scoring and defensive skills that helped Italy win the World Cup in 2006.

Trivia: He has appeared in a campaign for Pringles chips.