World Cup 2010

Brazil's Felipe Melo Hits Back At Italy Keeper Buffon

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon expressed confidence that his side can beat Brazil in tomorrow night's Confederations Cup match, but Selecao midfielder Felipe Melo thinks the Juventus number one talks too much...

Jun 20, 2009 7:13:02 PM

Brazil's Felipe Melo celebrates his header against the USA in the Confederations Cup

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Brazil's Felipe Melo celebrates his header against the USA in the Confederations Cup

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Despite Italy's poor display in the Confederations Cup match against Egypt last Thursday, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon remains confident and yesterday told Ansa.it that the Azzurri "could beat Brazil and Spain without playing spectacular football," and that "between a team of jugglers and a team of tough players, I always choose the second."

Italy will play the Selecao tomorrow night in the decisive last group game. Referring to the likely opponents they would face if they qualify for the semi-finals, he also added: "Italy can beat Brazil, Spain, and then Brazil again [in the final]."

In response to this, Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo, who opened the scoring for his team in their second group match against the USA, told Tv Globo: "Buffon talks too much, but tomorrow night he may have nothing more to say.

"I think he is getting too confident, although since Italy are world champions he has the right to say such things. He and the whole Italian team are expert people so we know we have a difficult match tomorrow. But we want to win and finish first in the group."

Brazil would need just a draw to qualify as group winners, while the Azzurri need to win and hope Egypt don't win big against the USA at the same time, or draw and hope Egypt don't beat the USA, who are already out.

Danilo Pochini, Goal.com