VIENNA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Italy are eager to prove their world champions reputation in the quarterfinals against Spain on Sunday after surviving the Group of Death. Italy only qualified for the last eight thanks to second-string Dutch team's 2-0 victory over Romania and their 2-0 win against France in the last round of Group C. But Italy have their reasons to be optimistic as they have a habit of starting slowly but coming to the boil when it really matters. To the contrast, Spain, who had scored three straight victories in group stages, had often faded quickly in knockout stages of major tournaments after making promising start in group stages. In 2006 World Cup, Spain looked unbeatable in early stages but were stopped abruptly by France. "This team have learned a lot since the World Cup," said midfielder Xabi Alonso, "We were a young side then and now we know what these competitions are like." Italy will have to reshuffle their line-up due to the suspensions of midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo.
Massimo Ambrosini and Mauro Camoranesi should replace them in midfield while Antonio Cassano is likely to start alongside Luca Toni up front. Spain coach Luis Aragones admitted that he is wary of the world champions though they looked in poor form in the group stage. "They aren't the team I would have most liked to have met. Defensively they are almost perfect," said Aragones. "We all know what Italy are like and it is not for nothing that they are world champions. "That tells us everything. They seemed dead and buried and now they are in the quarter-finals. Italy know how to cope with the good and bad times and their history shows that they have some enormously talented and hard-working players," added Aragones. Spain will have to overcome the psychological obstacle that they have never beaten Italy at the finals of a major international tournament. As the quarterfinal clash will be played on June 22 in Vienna, the Spanish team will have to break the June 22 jinx -- they fell three times in major tournament knockout stages on that date.
