We take a look at Italy's finest shot-stoppers over the years.
We take a look at Italy's greatest goalkeepers
Gianluigi Buffon
The world's most expensive goalkeeper is a special talent who is set to continue to be Italy's first-choice shot-stopper at this summer's tournament in South Africa. His first taste of World Cup action came at the 2002 competition where the Azzurri were beaten by co-hosts South Korea in the quarter-finals. Four years later though, Buffon and his team-mates tasted glory thanks to performances based on supreme defending and goalkeeping. Indeed, Buffon recorded five clean sheets and also embarked on a 453-minute streak without conceding. Buffon subsequently received the Yashin Award.
Gianpiero Combi
Combi is rightly considered one of Italy's greatest ever goalkeepers. The shot-stopper was a key member of the Auzzurri side which claimed the country's first World Cup title in 1934. Combi was handed the opportunity to shine for his nation on the world stage after Carlo Ceresoli sustained a long-term injury prior to the competition. Indeed, he skippered Italy at the tournament hosted on his homesoil and he propelled them to success. He conceded just three times in his five appearances, particularly impressing against the Austrians in the semi-finals as Italy went on to lift the Jules Rimet trophy by beating the Czechs in the final.
Walter Zenga
The brilliant Zenga played for his nation on over 50 occasions. Zenga had to make do with a back-up role at the 1986 World Cup but after the tournament he soon emerged as the Auzzurri's first-choice keeper. Indeed, he was selected as their No.1 for the 1990 World Cup hosted on homesoil. And on the world stage Zenga impressed as he set a new defensive record after notching five clean sheets and not conceding for 518 minutes. His nation ultimately finished third after losing to Argentina in the semi-finals and then beating England in the play-off.
Dino Zoff
Zoff is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have ever graced the game. He played at three consecutive World Cup finals and lost just three of the 17 matches he featured in. Zoff first played at the tournament in 1974 where Italy struggled and departed at the group stage. But four years later the Azzurri were much improved as Zoff helped them reach the third-placed play-off which they lost against Brazil. Then in 1982 came Zoff's moment of glory as he skippered his country to a World Cup triumph. Zoff's success also made him the oldest player to ever lift the trophy at 40, a record that still stands today.
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