Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon belts out the national anthem as an act of remembrance for relatives who died in the Second World War, he said Saturday.
Buffon, who is noted for his enthusiastic singing, will lead his team out against Spain in the Euro 2012 final on Sunday.
"I really sing very emotionally because the Italian national team means an awful lot to me," said Buffon.
"This is the country where I live and I lost two great-grandparents in the war and this is my recognition of them, the recognition of how much they mean to me."
Two powerful strikes by Mario Balotelli were enough to give Italy a 2-1 win over Germany in their Euro 2012 semifinal on Friday.
Buffon, 34, will pick up his 120th cap in Sunday's final after an international career that includes winning the 2006 World Cup.
