EURO 2016 TEAM PREVIEW: GROUP E - ITALY

Tip: Quarter-finals

Cult hero: When an annoying toothy Uruguayan bites you in front of billions of people watching worldwide, you tend to get people on your side. Giorgio Chiellini is the rock on which Italian hopes are built, his keen business mind seeing him graduate from the University of Turin with a 2010 degree.

Star player: With the forward spots up for grabs and the midfield consisting mostly of hard-working troops, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon still stands out as the man of the moment in France. The Juventus veteran has passed 150 caps now for his country and his gigantic, sprawling frame will strike fear into opposing strikers. With penalty shootouts usually occurring in the knockouts too, he will be key.

Player to watch: Alessandro Florenzi has come on leaps and bounds for Roma and Italy these past few years. He was unlucky to miss out on the 2014 World Cup, however ever since Antonio Conte brought him back into the fold for the recent Euro qualifying he has shown his worth to the team. Versatile, lively and with an eye for goal, his stock should rise even further from the outset in France.

How they qualified: Conte’s side might have struggled for goals in qualifying however, as ever, they kept it tight at the back to go unbeaten in topping Group H. Seven wins and three draws was an impressive return, but the two Croatia draws suggest they lack a cutting edge against top teams.

Line-up prediction: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Candreva, Florenzi, De Rossi, Giaccherini, Darmian, Eder, Pelle