Roberto Mancini: 'Italy versus England has become a classic'

The Azzurri and the Three Lions have faced off 30 times in total over the years, with the former coming out on top in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Indeed, a penalty-shootout triumph on English soil helped Italy lift their first European Championship trophy for 53 years, while England's wait to win their first international trophy in any competition since 1966 goes on.

Italy and England also did battle in League A of the UEFA Nations League between 2021 and 2022, with Mancini's men following up a goalless draw at Molineux with a slender 1-0 success at San Siro.

The Azzurri will now begin the defence of their European Championship crown when they face both England and Malta in their first two Euro 2024 qualifiers in Group C this week, starting with an encounter against Gareth Southgate's side at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of their opening qualifier, Mancini said: "[Italy vs. England] has become a classic game, like Italy-Germany in the past.

"England are a strong team with class and technique, we expect a tough game. They have more options than us. We want to play a great game, play well and begin well the Euro qualifiers, but they are strong."

Italy, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, experienced a mixed run of form last year, winning five, drawing two and losing four of their 11 games in all competitions including a 2-0 friendly loss against Austria in their last fixture in November.

Mancini is keen to make a strong start to their Euro 2024 qualification campaign, but is aware of the challenging opponents his side are soon to face in Group C, most notably England.

"We want to start well. It's not an easy group," Mancini added. "Ukraine is there as well and are a tough team. England are a top team, the national team is important and everyone wants to play in the Euros and the Word Cup.

"Motivations are important. In a very busy month for clubs players are stressed, but we have these days and now they must recover and be at their best on Thursday. You never know in life, we could win the Euros again, but first we have to qualify."

Asked to explain the identity of his Italy team, Mancini continued: "I never have certainties, things change quickly. Unfortunately, we didn't qualify for the World Cup, but aside from a few games, it's a team that reached the Nations League final four twice in a row.

"It looks like it means nothing, but it's like a mini-Euro. We need to build something important and we are trying. We've seen good things in Nation League games and this is important.

"My system? You know my system, but all our defenders play with a 3-5-2 formation. It's not easy but I believe our (4-3-3) system is the one that gives us more certainty to do well."

Italy's home fixture with England will be the Azzurri's first game since the passing of Gianluca Vialli in January - a former Chelsea striker and Italy international who was also part of Mancini's coaching staff with the national team during their Euro 2020 triumph.

Mancini intends to pay tribute to Vialli on Thursday, adding: "It's the first time without Luca, it will be important to remember him. It will be like he is with us.

"It won't be easy. We spoke before about it with the lads. We want to do well for him and remember what he left for us."

Meanwhile, Mancini has confirmed that Juventus' Federico Chiesa and Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco have been forced to withdraw from the Italy squad due to injury, and the latter has been replaced by West Ham United's Emerson Palmieri.