Milan  - Having lifted their fourth World Cup in the summer of 2006 and topped a tricky Euro 2008 qualifying group in the meantime, Italy head to Austria and Switzerland with an uncomfortable amount of expectation on them.

Most of the pressure will fall on their relatively inexperienced coach, Roberto Donadoni, and the big worry for the Azzurri is how they will respond if things don't immediately go their way in what figures to be a very difficult Group C with France, the Netherlands and Romania.

All involved will be well aware that the side's sputtering performance at Euro 2004 in Portugal was largely due to a plague of self-doubt that left the squad lacking any cutting edge.

But Donadoni has wisely kept most of Marcello Lippi's world beaters, and after taking just one point from their first two qualifying matches, his team settled down to win nine of their last 10 preliminary contests.

The former national team midfielder, whose contract has just been extended by a further two years, has been fortunate to preside over the meteoric emergence of big striker Luca Toni, who gives Italy an attacking focal point that they've seldom enjoyed.

The Bayern Munich hit man scored five goals in six qualifiers and fills the pivotal centre forward role in Donadoni's attacking 4-3-3 formation.

Likely joining Luca upfront will be Mauro Camoranesi, but a typically strong pool of Italian forwards of all ages is available.

Gone is retired idol Francesco Totti, but the veteran Alessandro Del Piero remains a potent option, while the Udinese duo of Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella are potential match winners in their own right.

As usual, the midfield is designed to be rock-solid more than imaginative. AC Milan trio Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini and Roma's Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta can scrap with the toughest of European midfields. However, Donadoni could call on Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Aquilani to unlock defences late in a game.

No matter their abilities going forward, Italy will, as ever, rely on their experienced and cagey defence. "Italy are an impressive team with the best defence in the world," said Spain boss Luis Aragones after their 1-0 friendly victory over the Azzurri at the end of March.

This starts with the inspirational Gianluigi Buffon, who was named best goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup. The Juventus veteran has the luxury of being protected by a defensive block that will include such equally recognizable names as former world player of the year Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, Gianluca Zambrotta or Christian Panucci.

The team, comprised largely of veterans, is brimming with self- belief despite the fact that the 2000 runners-up won their only European title way back in 1968.

"It's a historic time and we want to do something never done in Italian football," said dead-ball specialist Pirlo, commenting on whether Italy could emulate France by winning the world and European championships consecutively. "Everyone in the team believes Italy will win." (dpa)