He is a supremely gifted and athletic keeper, and his cool-headedness in crucial games has made him a regular for Italy.

His fearless runs out of the six-yard box to pluck the ball from strikers' feet have inspired his teammates, just as his ability to read crosses have frustrated opposing teams.

The 26-year-old made his professional debut in 1995 and has since become one of the best-respected goalkeepers in the game, marked by his record-breaking move £36m from Parma to Juventus in July 2001.

He played in every one of Italy's qualifying matches for Euro 2004, conceding just four goals along the way.