Two excellent goalkeepers. Two captains. Can you imagine anyone else in Spain's goal than Iker Casillas? Anyone else between posts in Italy's team than Gianluigi Buffon?
Today their teams plays against each other. One of possible scenarios is a goalless draw and penalty shootout. Who will be better in such a duel? Is a penalty shootout a lottery? Perhaps. But a skilled goalkeeper can tip a scale in favour of his team.
How does the stats looks?
Found an interesting article on Gazeta Wyborcza. Buffon saved 11 of 43 penalties he faced. Casillas 15 of 65. Those stats concern penalties performed during normal play (both in a club and in a national team). When it come to penalty shootout Casillas saved 5 penalties. Buffon 2. As the author observed, Casillas seems to defend penalties in the crucial moments. Buffon can't say the same, however, there are expections. On Euro 2008 in the final minutes of the last group match against Romania Buffon saved a penalty shot by Adrian Mutu. 1-1 draw guaranteed Italy a spot in quarterfinal.
As for Casillas, one of his greatest achievments, when it comes to penalties, are his saves in round of sixteen game on World Cup 2002. He saved Ian Hart's shot in normal play and then two shots in the penalty shootout.
What they say about each other?
Casillas: Gigi is a great person, an example for all goalkeepers, and in the football world he is pracically a legend.
Buffon: I don't have to say much to explain how good he is. Stats speaks for themselves. He won everything what could be won, for years he has been keeping good shape, what is extremely hard for a goalkeeper. Spain hardly ever loses goals and the reason is him.
My predictions? If it comes to penalty shootout, the final result would depent on goalkeepers saves.
Posts
