Italy starts its Euro 2008 campaign against Netherlands on Monday bidding to become the third world champions to add European lustre to World Cup glory.
Germany did it in 1988 and the French in 2000 - thanks to a cruel golden goal after a final most observers thought Italy deserved to win.
Despite revenge over France in the 2006 World Cup Final, the Azzurri still want to wipe out that memory and claim Italy's second title since victory on home turf in 1968.
This time they'll get an early crack at the French, who have been drawn into their 'Group of Death' along with the Dutch and dark horses Romania.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, once a tackle-hopping winger for AC Milan and Italy, is sticking to a more adventurous style compared to World Cup winner Marcello Lippi - the same approach that earned Italy its Euro 2008 qualification after a poor start.
Donadini will play 4-3-3 with Udinese's Antonio Di Natale and Juventus's Mauro Camoranesi in a three-pronged attack supplying the bullets for Bayern Munich's Luca Toni.
Brain and brawn stock the midfield with Roma enforcer Danilo De Rossi flanked by AC Milan 'pitbull' Gennaro Gattuso and the creative genius of Gattuso's clubmate Andrea Pirlo.
''We're here to lift this trophy too,'' said Pirlo, the one Azzurro every top club in Europe wants to sign.
''Aside from the coach Italy is the same, with the same will to win. But compared to two years ago we are stronger mentally and more aware of our strength.
''The Azzurri can do it even without (captain Fabio) Cannavaro. He's a great loss but we have excellent alternatives''.
The defence that let in one goal in Germany from open play - and an own goal at that - has taken a psychological knock from the training-ground tackle that robbed the Azzurri of Real Madrid stopper Cannavaro, nicknamed 'the Berlin Wall' for the World Cup displays that earned him unpredecented honours for a defender.
The unlucky guy who clattered into him, Juve's Giorgio Chiellini, has been reported as a likely starter against Netherlands because Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi is still not fully sharp after a long injury.
But 'Matrix' is expected to step back into the role against Romania on June 13 and France on June 17, alongside Palermo's Andrea Barzagli.
''The pair have played in a number of key games together and I don't think we'll have any problems there,'' Donadoni said.
Another of the World Cup stars, Barcelona's Gianluca Zambrotta, has shown signs of regaining his old form at left back after an indifferent spell in Spain.
Roma veteran Christian Panucci, one of Donadoni's surprise recalls after being dumped by Lippi, is expected to pip Germany penalty hero Fabio Grosso to the other full-back spot.
A danger from set-pieces, Panucci would like to carry on where he left off in the qualifying campaign, when he headed the goal that secured Italy's entry and Scotland's exit to the benefit of the French.
As last line of defence, the Azzurri will have arguably the safest pair of hands in the business, the massive mitts of Juve's Gianluigi Buffon - now the skipper after Cannavaro's injury.
If Italy are bidding for a place in the record books, one of their more colourful players, mercurial forward Antonio Cassano, is aiming to forget an incident at Euro 2004 where he went from joy to despair in the space of seconds.
The newly reformed bad boy's brilliant last-minute goal against Bulgaria looked to have booked Italy's ticket to the second round - only for news of a late Sweden-Denmark draw to turn celebrations to tears.
Cassano, who has been on his best behavior at training camp but still up for playing pranks on squad mates, showed some nice touches - and a newfound tolerance of being chopped down by nasty tackles - in Italy's last try-out, a 3-1 win over Belgium.
If he gets enough playing time as substitute for Camoranesi or, less probably, the on-fire Di Natale, pundits think he could finally make his mark on international soccer at the ripe old age of 25.
Meanwhile Juve's Alessandro Del Piero, after forcing his way into the set-up with his first Serie A marksmen's title, is looking to end his Italy years by adding to the memorable goal that sealed victory at Germany 2006's best game, the 2-0 win over the hosts.
One more goal would see him overtake Roberto Baggio and claim sole fourth spot in the all-time Azzurri scoring charts.
Del Piero will also be seeking to make amends for the couple of chances he squandered in the 2000 final - misses some non-Juve fans haven't yet forgiven.
Cassano or Del Piero could be Donadoni's trump cards against tiring opponents in tough situations, pundits here say.
But the main man, as ever, will be Luca Toni, pumped up by his 24 goals in his first season in the Bundesliga.
The international media have named Toni as one of the players to watch along with Germany's Michael Ballack, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and France's Thierry Henry, who is hoping to join his country's all-time greats instead of being remembered as a thoroughbred underachiever.
Young understudy Karim Benzema of Olympique Lyon is one to watch too, pundits say.
London bookies have Germany as favourites with Italy, Spain, France and Portugal close behind - and Croatia, who stopped England getting to the tournament, as the most likely outsider to succeed.
The Swiss-Austrian-hosted championships kick off Saturday with Switzerland-Czech Republic and Portugal-Turkey.
Sunday sees Austria-Croatia and Germany-Poland.
On Monday Romania face France a couple of hours before the Italy-Holland game.
If Italy wins Group C it will have a June 21 quarter-final against the runners-up out of Group D's almost equally forbidding line-up of Russia, Sweden, Spain and reigning champions Greece.
Should the Azzurri come second they'll face the top team out of Group D on June 22.
The semi-finals are on June 25-26 and the final on June 29 in Vienna.
