The Italians are very strong defensively. They showed in Euro 2000 how good defensively they are.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Playing against an Italian team is harder than all the other leagues. The Italians won't score lots of goals, but they won't concede many, either.
Italians can not beat us, but we can certainly lose against them.
The lucky thing was that I was Italian; when the other Italians saw me fight back, they came to my defence.
Italians are great improvisers. If something unforeseen happens, they throw up their hands, and they adjust.
Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvellous than the land.
There is in the DNA of the Italians a bit of madness, which in the overwhelming majority of cases is positive. It is genius. It is talent. It's the masterpieces of art. It's the food, fashion, everything that makes Italy great in the world.
Italy have plenty of high-quality players. Newcomers need time to get adjusted to the set-up and the system of play. I'm very young, and although I think I have shown good quality in my international games, I realise that there are plenty of others competing for places.
The Italians, who used to be a great motor-manufacturing power, have been absolutely destroyed by the euro - as was intended by the Germans.
The Italians have their priorities right: They're driven, they do their work, but they really enjoy the day-to-day and they don't put off the enjoyment of the everyday for some future goal.
I don't say we are a defensive team. I say we are a strong team in defensive terms, but at the same time lacking sufficient fluidity in attack because that will take time to come.