With the new found optimism for Italy’s goalkeeping future beyond Gigi Buffon being highlighted yesterday,  Qasa Alom takes a moment to reflect on the strange and sad tale of Federico Marchetti.

As another International break draws to an end, it seems that Cesare Prandelli’s new look youthful Italian national team have answered many questions and passed scrutiny with aplomb. Prior to the qualifier against Slovenia there was a vested interest in seeing how the former Fiorentina manager would address the ‘full back problem’ or the ‘midfield situation’ and the very fact that the future of Balotelli was the first question journalist’s posed after the Slovenia match speaks volumes about the lack of issues to nitpick in the past few months. In short, it seems that Prandelli has managed to bring a sense of calm to the squad and – dare I say it – a sense of security.

This is no more evident than in the goalkeeping department, where despite chopping and changing between pretenders to the throne Salvatore Sirigu and Emiliano Viviano, who filled in admirably for Gigi Buffon– the team’s defensive performance has remained consistent with only one competitive goal conceded and four consecutive clean sheets in the European Championship qualifiers.

So with Italy seemingly in safe hands for the next decade through Buffon, Sirigu and Viviano, as well as Dino Zoff’s recent comments that Italy’s two best goalkeepers at the moment are Christian Abbiati and Morgan De Sanctis, one can’t help feeling a little sorry for last seasons most wanted goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.

‘Ah yes I remember that name’ I hear you say to yourself as the cogs in the back of your head creak into action. In 2008 Marchetti was hailed by no less than San Buffon himself as the heir apparent. The Torino youngster didn’t let this compliment daunt him though and continued his rapid rise from outsider to contender before realising the dream as Italy’s number 1 at the World Cup. Sadly the only thing quicker than his rise was his fall from grace as Marchetti allowed four goals to pass him from only five shots, including that calamitous lob against Slovenia in the final group stage match, which left Italy – the World Champions no less – bottom of a table including part timers New Zealand.

Vilified in the media afterwards for playing a major part in the exit, Marchetti has astoundingly not donned his gloves for a competitive match since; but it hasn’t all been the fault of floppy hands though, as a loose tongue has been a contributing factor too.

Despite the disappointing competition, Marchetti was still considered to be a major transfer target for clubs all across Europe with Champions League bound Sampdoria very keen to acquire his services. Inevitably the ambitious ‘keeper was only too happy to fuel these rumous and spoke openly after the World cup about these wishes to a journalist.

Sadly the hack and his editor did not publish the interview until after the shot stopper began pre-season training with his club Cagliari, thus it looked like Marchetti breached the clubs embargo on players speaking to the press and did himself no favours with the clubs’ fans or president Massimo Cellino. Since then he has been replaced as the clubs starting shot stopper by Michael Agazzi, a younger keeper at 25, who has also been doing very well and therefore giving the club no reason to recall the exiled star from playing with the Primavera.

Undoubtedly Marchetti will have to leave in the summer to start again but he remains upbeat, citing many teams in Italy and the Premier league as still being interested.

“I left home at 14 for football, so anything is possible. The important thing is not to give in. With a professional attitude, sacrifices and values, the truth always comes out.” Federico Marchetti, March 2011.

From using words such as sacrifices and truth it’s quite apparent that Marchetti is a very spiritual person. Much of this comes from a life-changing accident in the summer of 2005 that forced him to re-evaluate his life. As a result he tattooed the words of the Hail Mary onto his body – and will most certainly be asking for her help and guidance as he plans to come back in the future.

Read superb analysis of Italy’s Goalkeeping situation from Danny Penza here