The US men’s national soccer team wasn’t the only one to qualify for the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday night. Across the Atlantic Ocean, four-time Cup winner Italy also punched its ticket to Brazil with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic.
With goal scoring from Mario Balotelli and Giorgio Chiellini, and help in the net from Gianluigi Buffon, Italy (along with the Netherlands) became the first European nation to qualify for the World Cup.
Tuesday night’s match was also a special night for another reason for Italy. It marked the 136th international cap for the longtime keep for Italy in Buffon—a mark that puts him level with Fabio Cannavaro for the team’s appearance record.
To celebrate the grand occasion, Buffon was given a customized pair of his Puma King soccer cleats complete with his name and the number of caps printed on the sides. The 35-year-old keeper went on to wear the shoes for last night’s match, though, he should certainly consider putting them behind a glass display moving forward.
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