While many opening matches in major tournaments are used by the participating sides as feelers, the match between Italy and Turkey in Arnhem's Gelredome on June 11 is a must-win game, for the Italians at least.

Dino Zoff's side enter the tournament under pressure to do well after yet another unimpressive qualifying campaign, and with Christian Vieri, the topscorer at the 1998 World Cup, missing from their squad through injury.

The Italians still have a strong squad from which to choose their starting eleven, with the likes of Alessandro del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi well overdue major performances in a championship.

Still led by the brilliant Paolo Maldini, Italy can be relied upon to be solid in defence, while the likes of Del Piero, Inzaghi and Roma's Francesco Totti are always dangerous in attack.

Coach Dino Zoff doesn't seem sure of his best line-up, with Totti far from certain to start. However, the coach who captained the team to victory in the 1982 World Cup seems sure his team can do themselves justice.

"The difference between qualifying and elimination was very marginal," Zoff said. "We had an objective of obtaining qualification and now we can demonstrate our abilities," he added.

Maldini is fit to lead the team after struggling with injury, and his presence will be vital if Italy are to improve on their poor showing at Euro 96. Victory over Turkey would go some way to ensuring they advance, but the Turks have been tipped by some sound judges, including Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, as possible quarter-finalists.

Led by the spearhead of Galatasaray's Hakan Sukur and clubmate Arif, Turkey will fancy their chances of progressing from a group including Belgium and Sweden.

Coach Mustafa Denizli inherited a team which did well to reach Euro 96, but which then failed to score a single goal in their three group matches.

However, he's kept faith with the bulk of that squad, several of whom will be familar to their opponents after Galatasaray's victory in the UEFA Cup.

Victories over Germany and Holland in recent times will have given them confidence, and with Italy not exactly firing on all cylinders, the Turks will not be happy just to defend for a point.

Midfielder Sergen orchestrates most of their attacks, while Tayfur, Abdullah and Hakan Unsal are all well capable of raiding down the wings to test Italy's full-backs.

However, experience counts for a lot in major championships, and there's no-one with more than Italy when it comes to producing their best when it matters most. They'll be favourites to win this one, but it won't be easy.