Buffon highlights importance of Croatia game

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has labelled the game against Croatia as the biggest game since Antonio Conte’s appointment as coach of the side.

The Azzurri are set to face the Vatreni on Sunday night at the San Siro in Euro 2016 qualifying, and Buffon was quick to highlight the importance of the game.

“It will be a very important game,” he said in the press conference. “It is definitely the biggest game since the coaching change.

“Croatia are an established side, it will be a good test to see where we are at.”

The Juventus goalkeeper then went on to wish that the weather will improve before the game, after heavy rainfall flooded northern Italy.

“There is still a lot of time to go before kick-off,” he said. “I hope that the weather will improve.”

Buffon then maintained that he did not have any issues with Mario Balotelli after the 2014 World Cup group stage exit, even praising his work ethic in recent training sessions before the Liverpool man left the camp after sustaining a groin injury.

“I never had any issues with Balotelli after the World Cup,” he said. “My words after the exit weren’t aimed at him.

“This week he trained like everyone else, and was really attentive and disciplined.”

Buffon concluded his words by speaking about the recent coaching change at Inter, which saw Walter Mazzarri lose his job and Roberto Mancini return as coach of the Nerazzurri.

“Mancini understands the environment at the club,” he said. “That being said, I did not like how Mazzarri was taken as a scapegoat.”

Italy are currently joint-top of Group H alongside Croatia, having achieved a maximum nine points from three games.

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