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Although they were considered favourites in group C, Italy and France could already on Tuesday night pack their suitcases and head back home. Nothing is up to them anymore, both sides have taken a point and even if Romania win Netherlands who are playing for honour, Les Blues and Azzurri will continue to watch the competition from the stands.

There are no easy rivals in the so-called “death group” but no one hoped that Netherlands could beat both great rivals and practically get the entire job done after only two matches. This saw France and Italy face their worst nightmare: they are about to play a knock-out match already in the first stage.

A lot has been said about the rivalry between these two sides. It all started with World Cup finals in Berlin and continued through EURO 2008 qualifications. At one time this rivalry even crossed some boundaries as in the case when Italian fans booed La Marseillaise in Milan.

France boss, Domenech added insult to injury by accusing Azzurri of cheating and fixing games, after which he faced a furious burst of Italian media. But, it should all be put aside now, both sides are aware that the most important thing is to remain calm and that they must win.

There are several other options which would see Italy qualify in case of a draw (the condition is , of course, that Romania lose to Netherlands) but as for France only a victory will do. There are a lot of combinations but judging by what these two big squads have shown so far, we shouldn’t expect a spectacular game.

The fear of making a mistake is definitely present and it is not difficult to suppose the reactions if Italy or France get eliminated in this stage.
 

Head-to-heads

France and Italy have met on 35 previous occasions. Italy have won 17 of these encounters, France only eight. One of these matches was the Euro 2000 final which was won by France (2-1). David Trezeguet scored the golden goal. Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Alessandro Del Piero played in that match.

These teams also contested the 2006 World Cup final. After drawing 1-1, Italy won the penalty shoot-out.

Two months later, France and Italy met again, this time in qualifying for Euro 2008. France won 3-1 courtesy of goals by Sidney Govou (two) and Thierry Henry. The return, a year later, ended in a 0-0 draw. That match was refereed by Lubos Michel, who has also been appointed for this clash.

Team facts - France

Can only qualify for the quarter-finals, if they beat Italy and if Romania fail to beat the Netherlands.

Fielded their oldest ever starting line-up in European Championship history in their previous match against the Netherlands (30 years and 133 days).

Team facts - Italy

Can qualify for the quarter-finals, if they defeat France and if Romania fail to beat the Netherlands. A draw involving goals (1-1, 2-2, etc.) can also be enough for Italy, providing Romania loses to the Netherlands. A 0-0 draw would also be enough, if the Netherlands beat Romania 3-0 or by at least a four goal margin.

Can become the first country at a European Championship to progress from a group without winning a single match.

Been knocked out in the group phase in two of the last three European Championships. The last two reigning world champions from Europe went on to at least reach the final of the next European Championship. Germany finished runners-up in 1992 and France won Euro 2000.

Italy and Turkey have already used 18 players after two matches in the tournament.

Player facts - France

By scoring against the Netherlands, Thierry Henry became the third player to score in three different European Championships, joining Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) and Vladimir Smicer (Czech Republic).

Henry is also only the fourth player to score in at least five major tournaments, European Championship and World Cup combined, joining Jurgen Klinsmann, Rudi Voller and Henrik Larsson. Klinsmann holds the record with six.

Willy Sagnol, Jeremy Toulalan and Claude Makelele will be suspended for a possible quarter-final match if they receive a yellow card against France.

France captain Patrick Vieira is out after admitting that he had not recovered from his thigh injury.

Player facts - Italy

If selected, Alessandro Del Piero will play his 13th European Championship match, equalling Italian record holder Paolo Maldini.

If Del Piero scores, he will become the first Italian to score in four different major tournaments (European Championships and World Cups).

35-year-old Christian Panucci became the second oldest player to score at a European Championship when he netted against Romania.

A yellow card for Gianluca Zambrotta will make him the first player ever to receive six yellow cards at the European Championship.

Zambrotta, Luca Toni, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi will be suspended for a possible quarter-final match if they receive a yellow card against France.

Miscellaneous Info

Several players in the French and Italian squad are teammates. Sagnol, Ribery vs Toni (Bayern Munich, Germany); Abidal, Thuram, Henry vs Zambrotta (FC Barcelona, Spain); Vieira vs Materazzi (Internazionale, Italy); Coupet, Boumsong, Clerc, Govou, Toulalan, Benzema vs Grosso (Olympique Lyon, France).

• if Romania beat Holland, ending the pair's progress hopes, a draw would not separate the teams in the standings. Therefore, a shoot-out would be played even though both sides would be out.
  

• If Romania lose by four goals or more and the other game ends 0-0, Italy would proceed with a better overall goal difference than Romania. France would finish bottom as they would have scored fewer goals head-to-head v Italy and Romania.

• If France and Italy draw AND Romania avoid defeat, then Romania go through. France and Italy will have identical records and a unprecedented penalty shoot-out will decide who finishes third and fourth.

Probable Line Up :

Italy : G. Buffon, F. Grosso, G. Chiellini, C. Panucci, G. Zambrotta, A. Pirlo, G. Gattuso, D. De Rossi, A. Di Natale, M. Camoranesi, L. Toni

Subs : M. Ambrosini, A. Del Piero, Gamberini, S. Perrotta, Cassano, Materazzi, Amelia, De Sanctis, Quagliarella, Borriello, Barzagli, Aquilani

Manager: Roberto Donadoni

France : G. Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, S. Govou, C. Makelele, J. Toulalan, F. Ribéry, K. Benzema, T. Henry

Subs : Anelka, Thuram, Boumsong, Malouda, Squillaci, Sagnol, Frey, Gomis, Mandanda, Diarra, Nasri

Injured : Vieira

Manager: Raymond Domenech

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