Two sides of Francesco Toldo in the corner of the city of Milan

Francesco Toldo ranks among the best goalkeepers Italy has ever had. Of course, the tifosi still remember the stunning performance of the goalkeeper at the 2000 European Cup.

For a Francesco Toldo, 2000 was a very important year. A year when the future becomes the present for him. A year when his name became a legend. It all took place under the sun of Nagri Windmills, in the semifinals of a European Tournament against the Netherlands on 29 June.

The glory of Toldo in that year, as told, turned out to have been predicted by someone named Alberto Ferrarini. He believes that Toldo will do great things in 2000, and of course will become the main goalkeeper in the Euro tournament.

Initially many thought that the prediction was wrong. The reason is, Dino Zoff, who was then coach of Italy, preferred Gianluigi Buffon as the number 1 goalkeeper.

However, this prediction began to be believed, after Buffon suffered an injury so he could not enter the competition. Finally, Chrisitian Abbiati was prepared as a substitute for Buffon, and became Toldo's reserve.

Ferrarini, who had predicted Toldo's brilliant action, called the goalkeeper in the morning. He asked Toldo to stay calm, because big things will happen.

At that time, under the skies of the Amsterdam Arena, Toldo was preparing to become a legend.

Playing with ten men from the 33rd minute after Gianluca Zambrotta received a red card, Zoff's side have been persistent and full of character, inspired by No. Their 12. As predicted by Ferrarini, the Netherlands won two penalties in that match, in the 38th and 62nd minutes. The first penalty, taken by Frank de Boer, was saved by Toldo, while Patrick Kluivert's shot hit the goalkeeper's right post.

But it is not the last penalty in the match. After the match ended in a 0-0 draw, practically the winner had to be determined through a high-fist fight. Some of the mainstay players such as Gigi di Biagio, Gianluca Pessotto and Francesco Totti managed to do their job well.

In the position of goalkeeper, Toldo, is the king! Although Kluivert managed to score a goal, Toldo thwarted the efforts of Paul Bosvelt and De Boer. In that match, Stam's shot was not countered by Toldo, but he soared above the goal.

With this situation, Italy is entitled to one ticket to the final.

But unfortunately, at the top, Italy had to recognize the superiority of the rooster team, after Sylvain Wiltord equalized in the third minute and David Trezeguet scored a stunning golden goal in the 103rd minute.

Francesco Toldo, again, not just any goalkeeper. He is included in the history books of the best goalkeeper from Italy, and deserves to be aligned with names such as Gianluigi Buffon, Christian Abbiati, Marco Amelia, to Angelo Peruzzi. Or maybe, get into a line of legendary goalkeepers like Gianpiero Combi, Enrico Albertosi, Dino Zoff, Walter Zenga, to Gianluca Pagliuca.

Born in Padova, Toldo started his career in 1985 with the Montebelluna youth team. His performance at that time was able to attract the interest of the Italian giant, AC Milan.

The Milan scout believes that Toldo is a young goalkeeper with extraordinary talent. He has many advantages, such as reflexes, handling, aerial duels, even when pressed in one-on-one situations.

But the presence of Sebastiano Rossi in the Rossoneri camp made little Toldo never move. It was difficult for him to get a chance and in the end his tenure at AC Milan was only used to "study" at several clubs such as Hellas Verona, Trento, to Ravenna.

Feeling unnecessary at Milan, Toldo finally accepted the offer made by Fiorentina.

This is where his talent is increasingly visible. In his first season, Toldo immediately became a new star between the sticks. The position is so solid and very difficult to shift.

Toldo has always been the main goalkeeper during his eight seasons with Fiorentina. He became one of the three pillar players of Fiorentina who were nicknamed three musketeers, along with Rui Costa and Gabriel Batistuta.

He successfully brought La Viola to embrace two Coppa Italia trophies and a Supercoppa Italiana trophy.

In total, Toldo has successfully registered 336 matches during his eight seasons with La Viola.

However, financial problems that plagued the club, forced Toldo to leave and move to Inter Milan. Together with the Nerazzurri, Toldo's name skyrocketed. In Inter's uniform, Toldo tasted five Scudetto Serie A titles and one Champions League trophy.

Together with figures like Cristian Chivu, Ivan Cordoba, Marco Materazzi, Walter Samuel, and Javier Zanetti, Toldo was lined up as the new Nerazzurri legend.

However, after bringing in young Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar in 2005, Inter were increasingly dismissing Toldo, even though he remained at Inter until he hung up his gloves in 2010.

Retiring from the gridiron, Toldo manages Inter Forever, Inter Milan's club promotion program. One of the main activities is holding exhibition competitions abroad, including Asian countries. Usually, this program is followed by old retired players, including himself.

One of his tours was to Indonesia in 2014. Toldo took part in the International Legends team which competed with Indonesian veteran footballers, Indonesia All Star.

Francesco Toldo is proof that Italy will always be, and still keeps the tradition of the number one goalkeeper in the world. At present, names like Alex Meret, Mattia Perin, to Gianluigi Donnarumma seem to be the recipients of the great Italian goalkeeper baton.

Toldo, despite his career as a goalkeeper of the great pizza nation, will never forget his two different sides in a corner of Milan.