Marco Materazzi looks back over the 2006 World Cup Final and ‘the heaviest ball I’ve carried in my life,’ as he trusts the current Italy squad will flourish at EURO 2024 against Switzerland.
The EURO 2024 Round of 16 tie kicks off at the Olympiastadion in Berlin at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT, 18.00 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
This tie is played in the same stadium where Italy won the 2006 World Cup, beating France in the Final in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on July 9.
“The moment I walked in, I saw my Saint and protector Gigi Buffon on the bench and immediately relaxed,” Materazzi told Sky Sport Italia.
“I looked back over every moment, perhaps the worst was the walk from the centre circle to the goal to take the penalty. It was the heaviest ball I’ve carried in my life, but fortunately it went well.”
Materazzi had also scored a header to cancel out Zinedine Zidane’s penalty that night, so did that mean more than his spot-kick in the shoot-out?
“I thought France had something more than us on paper, so getting the game back on level terms was crucial.”
Naturally, the former Inter defender was also headbutted in the chest for Zidane’s red card, but refused to talk about that today.
Materazzi trusts Italy to flourish
Italy struggled in the group stage of EURO 2024, beating Albania with a comeback, losing 1-0 to Spain and drawing at the last second with Croatia.
“We know how we got through. I always said the group phase is the toughest situation for Italy, once we get into a knockout round, we are tough nuts for anyone to crack.
“I was also telling Gigi earlier that the draw was kind to us, because if we’d ended up against Brazil, we might’ve already been sunning ourselves come July 9 rather than been here playing the Final.
“It depends on the players now.”
Riccardo Calafiori is suspended and replaced here by Gianluca Mancini, who is perhaps the defender who most resembles Materazzi.
“Replacing Calafiori, considering what he showed in the first three games, is tough. The coach did well to put his faith in someone with different characteristics, but who is always ready when called upon. Plus Bastoni has a good foot to start moves from the back.”