Buffon tips Italy as favourites to win World Cup

Rome: Italian veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is confident of Italy's good chances of winning the next year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

"A beautiful national side is being born," Buffon was quoted by ANSA as saying, reports Xinhua. "The side can still grow and take on anybody at the World Cup."

"We demonstrated at the Confederations Cup that we are as good as the best teams in the world. We've also made progress in the way we play," he said.

"Now we need to keep following the instructions of boss Cesare Prandelli in order to continue growing," he added. Italy lost to Spain in the European Championship final last summer. They finished third at the Confederations Cup in Brazil last month.