Goalkeeper worries for Buffon

KRAKOW–A good goalkeeper can go a long way to a team challenging for any title. But the head coaches from Italy, Ukraine and Denmark all have major keeper concerns as the start of Euro 2012 nears.Italian star glovesman Gianluigi Buffon is entrenched in a betting scandal back home, while Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin has seen his top three keepers go down, and Denmark’s No 1 goalie also must pass on the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.Buffon has appeared in 114 matches between the posts for Italy, but the 34-year-old Juventus keeper is fending off much more than just shots on goals at the moment.Italian investigators found checks from Buffon in a betting shop in Parma amounting to 1.5 million euros (1.9 million dollars). Buffon’s attorney said the Azzurri captain sent the checks to a trusted person for finance and real estate dealings.“He is strong and has a tremendous personality. But it will also be a difficult situation for him,” admitted Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.At least Prandelli would have Buffon’s back-up or even his third-string keeper should his star falter.Ukraine boss Blokhin would love to have any of his top three keepers. But top man Olexander Shovkovsky and No 2 Andriy Dykan are both injured while keeper talent Olexandr Rybka is sitting out a doping ban.Instead, Blokhin will go with the inexperienced trio of Maxym Koval, Andriy Pyatov and Olexandr Goryainov at Euro 2012. And Pyatov from Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk appears to be the favourite to start for the co-hosts.Denmark coach Morten Olsen also hopes his goalkeeping holds up as regular starter Thomas Soerensen will miss Euro 2012 with a back injury.“This is a big hit for us,” said Olsen, who was hoping that Soerensen would be available. With 101 caps, Soerensen had played at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups as well as Euro 2004.Denmark’s No 1 keeper instead is expected to be 30-year-old Stephan Andersen from French side Evian.

Sports

Goalkeeper worries for Buffon