European Championship appearances: 9 (first in 1968)
Best run: Champions (1968)
Group A rivals: Switzerland, Turkey, Wales.
Key players: Giorgio Chiellini, Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne, Ciro Immobile, Federico Chiesa.
Status: Rejuvenated under new head coach, Roberto Mancini. Made it to this year’s Euros by winning their qualifying group.
Not quite the vintage Italian team that sent waves across the world of football in the 90s, but they look a better side nowadays under a new coach. They should give the usual suspects a good push.
European Championship appearances: 2 (first in 2016)
Best run: Semi final (2016)
Group rivals: Italy, Switzerland, and Turkey
Key players: Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies, Daniel James, Chris Gunter, Wayne Hennessey.
Status: Wales has experienced a tremendous rise in football. In 2015, it recorded the biggest rise in the history of FIFA ranking when it rose from 117 to 8 in 2015.
The national team would go on to make a first-ever appearance in the Euros (in any major tournament whatsoever) in 2016 and embark on a fairytale journey.
They lost to eventual winners, a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal, 2-0 to put an end to a brilliant run which saw them eliminate Belgium on the way.
Since that tournament, they’ve managed to carve a reputation for themselves, also rubbing shoulders with the big boys in the top half of the FIFA ranking.
Verdict: All I can say is write Wales off at your peril.
