Sirigu holds the fort in style

Returning to the FIFA World Cup™ after their frustrating and truncated 2010 campaign, Italy had every right to be apprehensive when their talismanic keeper Gianluigi Buffon picked up an injury on the eve of their first Group D outing against England in Manaus.

There were fears as to how the Italians would react, especially with several members of theAzzurra squad having also been on duty in South Africa four years ago, when Buffon had to come off at half-time of their opening game and took no further part in the tournament.

The feeling of déjà vu was inescapable, though on this occasion the Italians would not be weighed down by Buffon’s absence, responding to it with the win that had eluded them in 2010. They achieved it with a blend of determination, team spirit and the confidence of the player called in to deputise for their injured No1.

Despite all his years of experience at the highest level, Salvatore Sirigu could have been forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed by the responsibility of it all on his World Cup debut.