20 years in the Italian national team, 20 years as number 1. Buffon started the 29/10/1997 against Russia taking Pagliuca's post to start with the A team. He's now played 173 games and celebrated a World Cup win against France in Germany in 2006. He's spoken through the official azzurri canal: "20 years of playing with Italy? It's the best present life has given me, I surely have deserved it. I wanted it but it's not been easy because every day you have to face difficulties, get the objective to not give up, to confirm the good moments and it's both physical and mental pressure. I think that the dream and the idea of representing my country, hearing the anthem for 20 years before starting the match, getting this kind of emotion, being able to have won a World Cup, giving our citizens this joy is worth a lifetime. That's the truth. I've never wanted to make things I didn't believe in. I've always tried to make decisions based on feelings, being part of a group, trying to represent something and fighting when we weren't the favorite. Italy, like Juventus and Parma even before, has been all of this: they've taught me a lifestyle so that's why I've tried to do my best, fighting with all my strengths so that our project could reach the highest levels. I may have succeeded some time, some other times not. I'm proud though, I know what I've done and given, but above all that I've received so much".
