Sorensen keeps Italians at bay

Gianluigi Buffon saluted Danish counterpart Thomas Sorensen after the Aston Villa goalkeeper's virtuoso performance shut out Italy in the Euro 2004 clash Guimaraes.

Both stoppers made outstanding saves as the Danes and the Azzurri held each other to a scoreless stalemate.

Sorensen's finest moment came towards the end of the first half when he stood tall to deny Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero before making a one-handed block from Francesco Totti's follow-up.

"Sorensen has played a very good game," said Buffon. "He made several difficult saves and proved crucial for his team.

"I am not surprised by his talent. In this competition there are many solid goalkeepers and he is one of them."

Buffon happy

The Juventus keeper - rated by many as the best in the world - was also satisfied with his own performance but not with a draw which casts their next game, a meeting with Sweden - 5-0 winners over Bulgaria, as a must-win.

"I think I have played a good game but I am not happy with the end result," said Buffon.

"Denmark proved that they are a talented team.

"We now have to look at the positives rather than the negatives, one thing is certain we can play much better."

For Sorensen, the game was significant as he was finally able to exorcise the demons that have haunted him since the 2002 World Cup when he spilled the ball over the line in his team's defeat against England.

"During a career you have highs and lows and you have to accept them," said Sorensen.

"That was a low point in my career but the most important thing is that I have learned from it and I have managed to put in a good performance against Italy."

Totti's shot certainly put to the Sorensen's reaction to the test.

"It was not an easy save because Totti's shot got a deflection," said Sorensen.

"I cannot explain how I managed to save both

shots, perhaps it was just instinctive but the important thing was to do so and I did."