Italy

The winners of the last World Cup have a lot to prove this time around. Addition of new faces did not help the team in its game against Poland. There will be all the more pressure on the centre back pairing of Cannavaro and Nesta, with Totti driving forward from midfield and Vieri up front. The one element that will save the team from a struggle is still elusive.

World champions Italy has a history of being slow starters and UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying was no different. One point from their first two games was a poor return but Roberto Donadoni's message was strong and clear and it gradually got through. They went on to win a tough group and will arrive in Switzerland confident of adding the European crown too.

The team started with a fresh template: the 4-3-3 system. Just two months after beating France in the FIFA World Cup final, the Azzurri had lost a qualifier 3-1 in Paris, following a 1-1 draw with Lithuania, to cap a poor beginning for Marcello Lippi's replacement. But these setbacks were only temporary and as the team adapted to the new formation the performance level soared up. And by the end of the campaign, the team was on top. Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti retired from international football, but much of the World Cup-winning party remain. Of course, the new coach has assigned many of them slightly different roles on the playing field.

Gianluigi Buffon will most certainly man the Azzurri goalpost, injuries permitting. Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi are firmly established in central defence. Christian Panucci, now back in favour competes with Massimo Oddo for the right-back berth as well as offering cover for the centre-backs. If Fabio Grosso recaptures his electric World Cup form, Gianluca Zambrotta would either start down the left or switch to the right.

Donadoni obviously feels that Massimo Ambrosini has far more potential than his predecessor, Lippi granted to him. A perennial substitute during the Lippi era, the guileful defensive midfielder is frequently joined by Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso in an all-AC Milan midfield, although Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta have excelled for AS Roma. Mauro Camoranesi is another option alongside emerging talents Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Aquilani.

The new comers to the team are forcing many of the old guards to be on their toes. They are providing a challenge to more established names such as Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero. Camoranesi has been used in a more advanced position on the right of a three-pronged attack in which Luca Toni supplies the spearhead. Antonio Di Natale has been a revelation on the opposite flank, while Fabio Quagliarella and Vincenzo Iaquinta are also prominent contenders.

Italy Euro Squad