International Friendly: Italy 0-0 Germany - 5 Talking Points

#5 Gianluigi Buffon matches Iker Casillas’ record

Buffon started the game but was brought off at half-time

Buffon made his 167^th international appearance for the Italian national team. This takes him level with former Real Madrid custodian Iker Casillas as the most-capped international player in Europe.

The 38-year-old was his usual, imperious self yesterday as he put in a neat, chanceless shift in goal for Italy. While he came off at half-time for breakthrough Milan teenager and his namesake Gianluigi Donnaruma, the rest of Europe will have noted how the elder statesman of Italian football has shown virtually no signs of slowdown whatsoever.

With Buffon announcing that the 2018 World Cup will be his last major international tournament, it remains to be seen how far he can extend this appearances record.