EXCLUSIVE! Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said he will play through the pain barrier to ensure he does not miss Euro 2008.

Buffon, 30, claimed he has suffered niggling injuries during Juve's return to Serie A but has vowed to put that to one side as Italy look to follow-up their World Cup victory with a European title.

"I have had a few physical problems, as with any player over the course of the season," the former Parma man admitted to Eurosport. "I even had to rest for a fortnight but, for the past two and a half months, I've been playing.

"It's true that I'm not 100 percent because I'm still feeling some pain but I can play through that.

"Sometimes you do have negative thoughts but, honestly, when I started to play following this injury I thought that things would improve and have found this to be the case."

Buffon went on to back Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, who came in for criticism after a few indifferent showings early in their Euro 2008 qualification.

"At first it was tough," Buffon added.

"When you play in qualifying matches having just won a World Cup it is hard to get the concentration and aggression right on the pitch.

"But, after not being ourselves for the first couple of games, we started to get things right and then it was excellent."

Italy face beaten World Cup finalists France in the group stages of the Euros in Austria and Switzerland, having already been drawn against Raymond Domenech's men in qualifying. They will also play Romania and the Netherlands.

See the full interviews with Gianluigi Buffon, Giovanni Trapatoni and Mauro Camoranesi on Eurosport's Eurogoals next Monday evening!

Stefano Bernabino / Reda Maher / Eurosport