History has taught us that regardless of form, personnel, management or talent Italy will nearly always be there or thereabouts at major tournaments.
Cesare Prandelli's 2014 vintage are no different and look likely to be a test for anyone in Brazil.
Boasting household names such as Gigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Mario Balotelli will be confident of progressing from Group D, despite the presence of England and Uruguay.
Despite being without a win in seven games expect the Azzurri to turn up in Brazil ready to go all the way.
Key players
Andrea Pirlo - Despite his advancing years Pirlo is still the heartbeat and consummate metronome for the Italians. Sitting deep in a three-man midfield everything the Azzurri do will go through the 35-year-old Juve man.
Mario Balotelli - The fiery striker still remains the main man where goals are concerned despite a so-so domestic campaign. Set to deployed as a lone front man with supporting runners the onus will be on him to fire them out of a tough-looking group.
Alessio Cerci - The Torino forward enjoyed a stellar Serie A campaign and looks set to be one of the first names on Prandelli's teamsheet. No player set up more goals in the league this year and Cerci will look to link up effectively with Balotelli at the finals.
Rising star
Ciro Immobile - Crowned the Capocannoniere after 22 goals for Torino this year Immobile will hope to bring his prolific domestic form with him to Brazil. Will also have one eye on matters after the tournament when he will join Borussia Dortmund.
Form
Prandelli's men eased through to the finals easily topping their qualifying group leaving second-placed Denmark some eight points behind. The Azzurri haven't set the world alight of late though and two disappointing warm-up draws, against Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, mean they are without a win since September.
Expectation
There are few teams who can claim the "perform when it matters" trait more than Italy. See 1982 and 2006 for examples where they were by no means the best team at the tournament but took home the trophy anyway. Expectations back home are mixed - in a recent poll the largest group fans, some 29%, felt they would fail to get out the group. The next best, 19% think they'll win the whole thing.
Quirky fact
Despite boasting a wealth of attacking talent the Azzurri have struggled for goals somewhat in recent times - the last time they won by more than a 2-goal margin was back in 2011.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders : Ignazio Abate (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)
Midfielders : Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards : Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
Fixtures
June 14 - England
June 20 - Costa Rica
June 24 - Uruguay