However, there can be no denying that basing the national team around Bianconero has always served the country well. As a result, there is now a very real temptation for current coach Cesare Prandelli to do likewise at Euro 2012.

When the former Fiorentina coach took charge of Italy in 2010, his plan was for his new side to play 4-3-3, but the system was ditched in favour of 4-3-1-2 early on in the qualification campaign. The switch was an unmitigated success but now Prandelli is considering another change in formation ahead of Sunday's tournament opener against Spain in Gdansk.

After seeing his side torn apart with disturbing ease by fellow finalists Russia in last Friday's friendly in Zurich, the Italy boss began experimenting with 3-5-2 in training last weekend. The conclusion was obvious. As Gazzetta dello Sport announced on Sunday morning: "Juve-style Italy".

The system change would undoubtedly represent a gamble given its proximity to a meeting with the reigning European and world champions, but as Prandelli admitted in the aftermath of the Russia debacle: "I am forced to try something, even if I haven’t got much time, to give some security at the back."

Besides, the thinking behind the switch is, at least, sound: firstly, because it is a formation familiar to several members of the squad; secondly, because it would enable Italy to get the most out of their sizeable Juventus contingent.

From a defensive perspective, Italy boast several players capable of playing in a three-man backline. Andrea Barzagli’s injury has complicated matters no end, as it has removed the possibility of Prandelli fielding the Juventus centre-half alongside his club-mates Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, who has declared himself fit to face Spain.

However, Angelo Ogbonna, who is just as comfortable at full-back as he is at centre-half, could easily slot in on the left-hand side of Italy’s central three, while Daniele De Rossi was utilised at the back to good effect by Roma last season.

An extra centre-half would also go some way towards addressing the rather worrying inability to adequately deal with set-piece deliveries that was so evident against Russia. Furthermore, Federico Balzaretti underlined on the night that he is well-suited to the role of wing-back, and Christian Maggio, who had a shocker against Russia, would certainly benefit from having greater cover behind him given his fondness for bombing forward down the right flank.

Adopting 3-5-2 would mean sacrificing Riccardo Montolivo but then, perhaps sacrifice is the wrong word in this instance, given the Fiorentina man still looks so uncomfortable in the trequartista role. Besides, De Rossi and Claudio Marchisio both demonstrated in Zurich that they are more than adept at getting beyond their front two, meaning Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano will never want for support. Even if De Rossi is redeployed, his likely midfield replacement, the industrious Antonio Nocerino, proved during his debut season with AC Milan that he has a keen eye for goal. Furthermore, Nocerino, De Rossi and Juventus duo Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo are all very familiar with lining out in a midfield three.

It is also worth pointing out that both Nocerino and Balzaretti are former Juventus players, meaning that even if Bonucci is dropped, there will be a considerable Bianconero influence within Italy's likely starting line-up against the Spanish. That is certainly no bad thing.

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