Buffon calls for Italian football to unite after World Cup failure

Buffon calls for Italian football to unite after World Cup failure

Juventus great Gigi Buffon says Italian football needs to unite after their World Cup qualifying failure.

Italy will miss their third World Cup finals in a row this summer due to a playoff defeat to Bosnia.

Buffon resigned as Italy team manager in the aftermath and spoke at a presentation for his biography about what is needed to improve the local game.

He said: "In 2006 the conditions were terrible, with Calciopoli, but we won because (Marcello) Lippi protected us, and then we were all really brothers in that team.

"The elimination with Bosnia? The moment is difficult but it is an opportunity to start again and grow, starting from the foundations, without shortcuts.

"We Italians are the best at forming groups in difficulty."