Spain prepare for Italy round of 16 clash in repeat of Euro 2012 final
Spain have arrived in Saint-Denis full of confidence as they aim to beat Italy and reach the European Championship quarter-finals, where world champions Germany lie in wait.
The Roja want to erase the painful 2-1 defeat to Croatia on June 21 and prove that they're still one of the clear favourites to win the competition.
There's good reason to believe passage to the next round will be achieved, although opponents Italy have exhibited a typically defensive style that goes against Spain's free-flowing football.
Vicente del Bosque has given no clue as to which players are in contention to start at the Stade de France, but the evidence suggests that the team will remain unchanged from the first three games.
The coach didn't hesitate to praise the Azzurri who under Antonio Conte have lost just once so far in Euro 2016.
"We face a very strong team that dominates the defensive areas but who are also dangerous in attack," the 65-year-old said, "We have to do many things well and all the players have an important role, not just our midfielders."
The Azzurri are likely to field a 3-5-2 formation that has caused Spain to come unstuck in previous international tournaments, with the 5-1 loss to the Netherlands a notable example at the 2014 World Cup.
Alvaro Morata is also set to start his fourth game in succession and will face his former Juventus team-mates Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini in the Italy defence, in what is set to be a pinnacle moment in the 23-year-old's international career.
