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De Rossi defends Buffon: Best 'keeper in history can make mistakes too

Reuters

Nobody's perfect.

Not even someone widely considered to be one of the greatest ever.

Iconic Italian shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon made a rare, glaring error in Thursday's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Spain, the Juventus veteran racing out to make a clearance and whiffing entirely before Vitolo slotted home into a gaping net.

But Daniele De Rossi, who was honoured before the contest at the Juventus Stadium for winning his 100th Azzurri cap, spared the 'keeper's blushes with a late penalty, ensuring Italy came away from the match with a vital point.

Related: Outclassed Italy steals late draw against dominant Spain

De Rossi, 33, said afterwards that the typically imperious Buffon is not immune from mistakes for one simple reason: he's human.

"The best goalkeeper in history can make mistakes too, otherwise he’d be a machine," the midfielder said. "I’d have preferred he made a mistake for Juventus rather than Italy, but you can’t have everything!"

Italy laboured badly in the opening stanza, absorbing constant pressure as La Roja dictated play and possession, and De Rossi highlighted a couple of issues the Azzurri had against the slick-passing midfield of Andres Iniesta and David Silva.

"It was tough, above all the first half. Spain always control the ball, but in the first half we were too deep and allowed them too much possession. We were too weak in the tackle and then kept giving it back.

"The first half was bad. The second was better and we had a strong comeback, which is in our DNA. The draw isn’t the best result, but I think the group that did well in Euro 2016 is still going strong," he said.

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