Italy v Belgium, Brussels, 19.45 (Network 2, BBC 1)

"Droomstart" was the headline in one of Brussels' Flemish newspapers on Monday morning following Belgium's edgy 2-1 victory over…

"Droomstart" was the headline in one of Brussels' Flemish newspapers on Monday morning following Belgium's edgy 2-1 victory over Sweden in the capital on Saturday night. But while the notoriously sceptical Italian press were always unlikely to be so effusive about Italy's 2-1 defeat of Turkey in Arnhem, Italy too awoke on Monday with a fair degree of contentment.

The Turkey fixture had a dangerous feel to it for the Italians but now that it has been overcome, Dino Zoff's team should enforce its alleged superiority against a limited Belgium side, even one buoyed by its new national celebrity.

On Sunday, a Belgium XI featuring Saturday's substitutes played a local fourth division club and attracted an audience of around 3,000. This level of popularity is previously unheard of. Such events, while not significant in themselves, can add a sense of momentum, and then there is the fact that when these two last met, in Italy in November, Belgium won 3-1.

All Belgium's goals came from the air that night but Alessandro Nesta, the Lazio centrehalf, was missing. He will be present tonight, though as Zoff said of the Turkey match: "We have fairly small defenders and they missed a few of the high crosses." Belgium's attacking ploy should be straight-forward, yet a player like Marc Wilmots will not be satisfied with merely pumping in high centres.

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Much has been made of Italy's striking options but Zoff is sure to persevere with Filippo Inzaghi and Francesco Totti. If the game is not drawn, whoever wins is well-placed to finish top of the group and meet the runners-up of England's group in the quarter-finals.

Michael Walker

Michael Walker

Michael Walker is a contributor to The Irish Times, specialising in soccer