Switzerland international Valon Behrami thinks the Azzurri are 'too pessimistic, you have the right formation to hurt Belgium'.

Italy play the Belgians tonight at 20:00 UK time, in the group opener for Euro 2016. Behrami, who started in Switzerland's 1-0 victory over Albania, developed a considerable knowledge of Italian football after playing for Genoa, Verona, Lazio, Fiorentina and Napoli.

Switzerland international Valon Behrami thinks the Azzurri are 'too pessimistic, you have the right formation to hurt Belgium'.

Italy play the Belgians tonight at 20:00 UK time, in the group opener for Euro 2016. Behrami, who started in Switzerland's 1-0 victory over Albania, developed a considerable knowledge of Italian football after playing for Genoa, Verona, Lazio, Fiorentina and Napoli.

“In Italy you are too pessimistic,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Belgium are a nasty client, but you're no push-overs either.

“You have the right formation to hurt them. We played against Belgium less than 20 days ago, losing 2-1. They aim for the one-on-one, as they rely on their higher individual technique.

“The Azzurri, instead, will be compact, and [Coach Antonio] Conte's 3-5-2 can flummox the Belgians. If you can hold on for the first 20 minutes, when they'll try and crush you, then the game is going to change.”

The midfielder was then asked whether Italy were a team that could be tipped for victory.

“Italy certainly deserve faith. It's never easy to beat you. And you have a Coach that knows how to motivate his players. He's a real leader, my greatest regret in football is linked to him.

“He called me in January 2012 and told me: 'Come to Juve, I need someone like you'. I'd have gone there on the run, but Fiorentina didn't let me leave and they ended up signing [Simone] Padoin instead. If I'd gone there, I'd have won quite a few trophies.

“But with Napoli I was very happy, and I really bonded with [Coach Walter] Mazzarri. I was wrong to move to Germany, that move was too hurried.

“I'll find Mazzarri at Watford again. He already phoned me. 'No monkey business, you're staying with us', he said. I'll tell you the truth, I don't know how things would have ended without him on the bench.

“I miss Italy, my family wishes that I played there. But I'm following Mazzarri.”

Finally, Behrami was asked whether Switzerland could make it farther than the Azzurri in Euro 2016.

“Our objective is to get out of the groups. As for the Azzurri, I wouldn't be surprised if they went all the way.”

Byandrea

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