Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, first to wear the 2018 home shirt, to celebrate 20 years with Italy

The Italian international goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is the only player in the "squadra azzurra" to have worn the new 2018 home team shirt of the Italian national football team, for the match against Macedonia (1-1, Group G qualification for the 2018 World Cup) on 06/10/2017.

Puma, the FIGC official kit supplier, wanted to present the Italian team shirt that will be worn during the World Cup in Russia, but also to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Gianluigi Buffon's first cap for Italy, in Russia, on 29/10/1997 (1-1, qualifying play-off for the 1998 World Cup, Italy qualified 2-1 on aggregate after the two matches). The Juventus FC goalkeeper has 173 caps with the "squadra azzurra" on 10/10/2017 and will celebrate his 40^th birthday on 28/01/2018.

"As a tribute to the hero, the team will allow the captain to wear the new shirt, with the famous Azzurro blue colour for the first time in his career for the match away to Albania (0-1 to the Italians) )on 09/10/2017," said Puma on 06/10/2017. The 2018 Italian home shirt has been on sale since 06/10/2017.

The Italian team finished with…