With the gravitas he usually brings to his goalmouth, Gianluigi Buffon discussed the merits of England, Italy and the world's next generation of top goalkeepers, led by Joe Hart.

 Only when someone raised the idea that he might settle down in front of the TV screen with his goalkeeping colleagues to scrutinise video footage, did his authority slip.

Goalkeepers' union: Buffon (left) backed Joe Hart to be the No 1 stopper in the world

It was a question about researching penalty-takers ahead of tomorrow's quarter-final against England and Buffon lurched without pause into a world of playground smut. Tittering uncontrollably and egged on by fellow keepers Morgan de Sanctis and Salvatore Sirigu seated alongside, he could barely blurt out: 'Oh, yes, we'll watch a video tonight.'

 It was a bizarre flash of 'Carry On' inside Casa Azzurri in Krakow, the headquarters for the Italian media, just over the tram tracks from the Cracovia stadium where Cesare Prandelli has been preparing his team to face England with some long sprint sessions.

 That aside, however, Buffon was in the sort of statesmanlike mood which befits one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, a World Cup winner who will win his 118th cap tomorrow.

 'Spain and Germany are the best teams in my opinion,' said the  34-year-old. 'We are not among the strongest sides but that does not mean, if we play Germany or Spain, that our opponents have won already.

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