Keepers: key to Cup title?

BOCHUM, Germany — The guys who keep the ball out of the net after all else breaks down could decide this World Cup. If so, Italy might have the edge with Gianluigi Buffon.

The Italians have allowed one goal in five games, and that was an own-goal against the U.S. Not that opponents haven't had chances.

But Buffon, on his third World Cup team, has been either solid or spectacular. His work against the Czech Republic in the opening round and Ukraine in the quarterfinals was reminiscent of some of Italy's greatest goalkeepers, from A (Enrico Albertosi on the 1970 finalist) to Z (Dino Zoff on the 1982 champions).

"It seemed like the Czechs didn't have much respect for me, otherwise they wouldn't have tried to beat me so many times," Buffon said with a laugh after making eight saves.

And Ukraine star striker Andriy Shevchenko called Buffon "the greatest goalkeeper in the world" after some superb stops in the round of eight. Buffon's performances have been even more impressive considering what's happening back home. The match-fixing scandal has also focused on illegal betting, with Buffon's name prominently mentioned. The club he backstopped to the last two Serie A championships, Juventus, could wind up being relegated to a lower division.

There's no telling what might happen to Buffon, who has acknowledged betting on other sports.

"This was a much more complicated training camp than in past World Cups or European Championships," Buffon said.

Yet he's been the dominant keeper in the tournament. Certainly Germany's Jens Lehmann, Portugal's Ricardo Pereira and France's Fabien Barthez have had their moments — particularly Lehmann and Pereira in penalty-kick shootouts — but Buffon has been the biggest standout at the toughest position in soccer. His reaction to such praise? "You need to sweat through seven shirts to beat Italy," he said, turning the compliments to his defense and midfield.

The Germans get the next shot — they hope more than one — at Buffon on Tuesday night in Dortmund. The winner moves on to Sunday's final in Berlin.