Buffon - England have world's best midfield.

Blackleaf · Buffon - England have world's best midfield.

Italy goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, says England have the best midfield in Europe and maybe the world.

He wishes that Italy had Gerrard and Lampard.

29 May 2006

EXCLUSIVE: BUFFON: IF WE HAD STEVIE AND LAMPS WE'D RULE THE WORLD

By Martin Lipton

ENGLAND have a World Cup winning midfield of Steve Gerrard and Frank Lampard, according to Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

While England boss Sven Goran Eriksson struggles to get the best out of them, Buffon believes Italy would be world champions if they had the pair in their side. The £32million Juventus keeper said: "I'd say England have the strongest midfield in Europe, maybe in the world.

"They have the best players in that area. Lampard and Gerrard are great players, strong people who can drive the game and win you matches." Buffon, cleared to play in Germany after being implicated in the betting and corruption scandal which has enveloped Italian football, added: "If we could have just one of them, we'd be very lucky.

"If we could have them both we'd win the World Cup. When you look at our team we're very strong at the back, with Nesta and Cannavaro and have strikers to choose from in Cassano, Gilardino, Vieri, Inzaghi and of course Toni, who has done so well for Fiorentina this season.

"But there is a weakness in the midfield. We have a few good players but it is a weakness and one of the points we have to try to address.

"When we look at the England squad and the midfielders they have, we do wish we could have one of them.

"England are good enough to reach the final."

thesun.co.uk