When Italy's elegant central defender Alessandro Nesta came out to meet the media at the team's training camp in Geel, near Antwerp, the other day, he was slightly taken aback by one of the early questions.

"So then, Sandro, is this going to be a definitive test for Kluivert to play against you?"

The question was only half in jest. Such is the high regard in which Nesta is held in his native land that it seemed almost natural to suggest that it is Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert rather Nesta who has it all to prove in their expected dual in tonight's semi-final in Amsterdam.

Twenty-four-year-old, 29-times capped, Nesta, however, is too football-worldly wise to fall into such a trap. With an engaging smile that sat well on his film star looks, he said: "No, no. This is a big test for Nesta. Kluivert is a very good player, a very complete player and someone who has been playing at this level long before me. Remember he won the Champions League with Ajax as a very young player."

Along with players like striker Francesco Totti and midfielder Stefano Fiore, Lazio captain Nesta represents the Italian "new wave" that, win or lose tonight, has established its classy credentials at these championships.

For Nesta, the ultimate consecration came the other day when former AC Milan and Italy libero, Franco Baresi, ventured the opinion that he was just about the best central defender in the world today.

Even if Baresi's opinion undoubtedly reflects a little home-town prejudice, there is, nonetheless, no denying that the stylish Nesta has made a major impact at Euro 2000.

In an era when Italian soccer had begun to worry about being short of world class talent, Nesta represents a guarantee for the future.

His reading of the game, his timing, his ability to play his way out of defence, his pace and an instinctive element of native arrogance all make him look like by far the most promising Italian defender to emerge on the international scene since the current Italian captain, the peerless Paolo Maldini.

In truth, he might have made that breakthrough two years ago at France '98 but an injury in Italy's third first-round game against Austria prematurely ended his involvement in Cesare Maldini's team two years ago.

Prior to that he had been a lastminute call-up for Arrigo Sacchi's Euro '96 team in England, without, however, actually playing in that ill-fated Italian expedition. Does he feel now that he has finally made it on the international scene?

"I'm only beginning, I haven't played enough at this level. Of course, I'm very pleased with the way these championships have gone, both for me and for the team, but we've still got to do the main thing.

"I don't know what the result will be but I tell you it will be a very tough game, for us and for them. I don't see it as a very spectacular game, rather a tough, athletic one where both sides will have to work really hard to get a result."

Much will depend tonight on how the Italian defence rides out the inevitable, initial assault from the home team.

It requires no Einstein to conclude that Italy intend to soak up everything that the Dutch can throw at them in the opening half hour and then hope to hit them on the break.

Nesta admits that he will have an important role, not so much in marking Kluivert, as in organising the centre of the defence.

"If you've seen us play, then you'll know that we play a zonal defensive system. Sometimes Fabio (Cannavaro) will pick up Kluivert, sometimes I will and sometimes Paolo (Maldini) might pick him up. It depends."

Asked about the all too obviously confident eve-of-bigmatch mood in the Italian camp, not to mention an apparent lack of concern about The Netherlands, Nesta is quick to correct any impression of misplaced over-confidence.

"There's no need to talk up Holland. They're the favourites, they're playing at home and we've all seen the quality of their players."

We have all seen the quality of Nesta, too. A key figure in the Lazio side that has just won the Italian title, Nesta was actually launched on his first-class career by current Italian maestro, Dino Zoff.

Six years ago, as then Lazio coach, Zoff sent out Nesta for his Serie A debut in a March 1994 game away to Udinese, just six days before the defender's 18th birthday.

Looking back on that match, Zoff now says: "I remember that Alessandro was trembling like a leaf.

"He seemed very nervous but when he got on the pitch, he was fine . . . I've never had any doubts about his ability."

At this stage, nobody doubts Nesta's ability. Poise, aplomb, the combination of Latin flair and Mediterranean cynicism all make him a natural Italian standard bearer. He will need all those qualities tonight.