Italy are a forced to be reckoned with.
They may have entered the tournament a bit under the radar, but that is certainly not the case after taking nine points from their three group games at Euro 2020.
Despite resting the majority of their team for the game against Wales this evening, they still strolled to what was a relatively comfortable 1-0 victory. It was their 11th consecutive victory, a run in which they have also kept a clean sheet in each fixture.
However, the performance may have created a few headaches for manager Roberto Mancini.
Alessandro Bastoni put in a fantastic performance at the back, while the likes of Ferderico Chiesa and Marco Verratti also played very well after coming into the side.
Speaking on RTÉ after the game, Liam Brady said that Bastoni was particularly impressive against the Welsh:
I thought the squad that was on show tonight was absolutely brilliant. There were other players who came in and will give Mancini (something to think about), particularly the boy at the back Bastoni.
He's only 22-years of age. If [Giorgio] Chiellini doesn't make it, will they go for the young kid at 22 or will they go for [Francesco] Acerbi who is 33? From what I've seen tonight Bastoni should be in the team.
Then you've got Chiesa on the wing, he's up against Bernardi for that place. I think he's given Mancini a lot to think about as well, he was powerful and created chances for his team...
Bastoni is like a chip off the old block in regards defending, tight and strong. He has probably watched Bonucci and Chiellini down through the years and thought 'I want to be like those two'.
Chiellini limped off after 30 minutes against Switzerland and it remains to be seen when he will be available for selection.
Didi Hamann believes that while Mancini will start Bastoni and could include the likes of Verratti or Chiesa in the last-16 tie, it would be harsh to drop any of the players who featured in the first two games of the tournament:
I think (Bastoni) will play. When it comes to the other two in Verratti and Chiesa, they didn't do themselves any harm today with their performances.
But how do you explain it to the other guys? How do you say it to Bernardi or Parella 'you've got six points on the board and six goals, today you will get a breather because the other guys need a game'. How do explain it to these players?
I think it will be very hard.
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