Giuliano - First name in the line-up | OneFootball

That famous line-up was unforgettable, yet few stopped to consider the first name. The defence, they said, was the secret behind that incredible Inter side. Burgnich and Guarneri were relentless man-markers, Facchetti the goalscoring full-back and Picchi the charismatic leader. Then there was Giuliano Sarti, who at one point seemed destined to be the perennial runner-up.

What few people know is that Sarti joined Inter very late in his career. He was 30, an advanced age for a footballer at the time. He had spent almost his entire career with Fiorentina, recording four runners-up finishes and losing a European Cup final to Real Madrid, although his saves earned him the praise of Alfredo Di Stéfano. He had also helped the Viola win the first Scudetto in their history. And then? Then came Inter, and the chance to make history. His first season brought the sweetest revenge of all, against Real Madrid. This time, Di Stéfano had congratulations to add to his praise. Inter were champions of Europe and Sarti could finally celebrate.

Was that all? Not quite. Two more finals followed. In 1965, he celebrated again, this time in Milano against a Benfica side with Eusébio in its ranks. In 1967 came another defeat, against Celtic. Once again, being named man of the match offered little consolation. That was also his final season with Inter. His mistake in Mantua cost the Nerazzurri the Scudetto and left Sarti with an unfair post-career legacy. Every interview seemed to begin in the same way, with another question about that afternoon when one ball too many slipped from his grasp. Nobody thought to ask him, for example, what it felt like to be the only Italian goalkeeper to have played in four European Cup finals. As Luciano Ligabue once sang, even the darkest day eventually gives way to a change in fortune.