The image of Toldo's angry confrontation with team mate Luigi Di Biagio, almost pulling the shirt off the back of one of Italian football's genuine 'hard men' after the midfielder had grabbed his neck, featured heavily in the Italian media on Wednesday.

It was a moment that encapsulated the high tension that had accompanied Inter's 2-1 defeat to the Spaniards -- a result which was enough to put them into the semi-finals on away goals.

But what made Toldo the real hero of Inter's battling rearguard display was a series of outstanding saves as he almost single-handedly foiled Valencia's ceaseless attacks.

Toldo was quick to play down the incident with Di Biagio, citing it merely as proof of the determination the Italian side had shown to make it into the last four in the competition for the first time in 22 years.

"I'm very sorry about what happened, but it was just a moment of competitive tension. We are great mates and we cleared things up immediately and everything's fine now," Toldo told the club's website.

Di Biagio concurred: "From the outside it's seen as something that shouldn't occur between team-mates and that is right but I see it as a demonstration of the indomitable character of Inter players."

"It would have been worse had there been apathy or resignation. There's no problem between me and Francesco," said the midfielder.

Certainly there was no sign of the square-up having harmed Toldo's concentration on the game -- he made around a dozen key stops, including a stunning one from a fierce volley by Ruben Baraja.

"That was all about instinct. The ball came from the right and he volleyed after cutting into the middle. In that sort of situation you have to choose -- I decided it was going to go to the left-hand post."

"I was lucky, I moved early and I got a touch on the ball. But, yes, it's one of those saves that make you feel good," said Toldo.

The former Fiorentina keeper would be undisputed number one in many national teams but has to settle for being understudy to Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in the Italy squad.

Buffon was also excellent in his team's quarter-final win at Barcelona, and Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni will be glad to have at his disposal two such in-form and confident keepers.

"That is the type of match that boosts a goalkeeper," said Toldo, "It's like a kind of training session because of the number of shots you find you have to save."

"We didn't think we'd have to play this type of match. We all spoke together and we wanted to play a different match, keeping them in the midfield. Instead, it was agony. But the important thing was to get through the round."