Long gone seemingly are the days when Italy made qualifying for major tournaments hard work and they are well on their way to Brazil 2014.
The Azzurri sit top of Group B in Europe, unbeaten after seven matches, and welcome an out of sorts Czech Republic to Turin on Tuesday.
A crucial 1-0 triumph over a talented Bulgaria side on Friday night put distance between Italy and Luboslav Penev’s men, the advantage at the summit is now seven points, and a further success for the four-time winners will see them seal their place at the World Cup finals next summer.
It was Alberto Gilardino that proved the match-winner in Palermo but Andrea Pirlo is still the midfield master for Italy and I’ll never tire of watching the Juventus maestro.
There is a really strong spine to Italy at present and, while they were embarrassed by Spain in the final of Euro 2012, losing 4-0 in the showpiece, it should not be forgotten just how well they played in Poland-Ukraine.
Italy are a class above their upcoming opponents and should be backed with confidence.
It has been a massively disappointing qualifying campaign for Czech Republic and they face an uphill task to fill the play-off spot by finishing runners-up to Italy.
A point adrift of Bulgaria, the Czechs conclude with three away fixtures, the last of which is in Sofia, and Michal Bilek saw his faltering troops beaten in Prague by Armenia on Friday, losing 2-1 on home soil.
Bilek is likely to lose his job with the Czechs having scored just seven times in as many matches, six of which came in routine wins over Malta at home and in Yerevan, and I am anticipating an Italian triumph to nil.
These two sides played out a goalless in June but that suited Italy just fine and I am expecting them to finish the job in style.
Cesare Prandelli’s team boast a perfect home record in qualifying to date and enter Tuesday’s clash on the back of three consecutive competitive clean sheets.
The Czechs lack any real creativity, veteran Tomas Rosicky was on the score sheet in their defeat last time out, and it is hard to imagine the visitors posing the host’s defence and Gianluigi Buffon too much trouble.
3pts Back Italy (vs. Czech Republic) @ 4/7 (Bet 365)
1pt Back Italy To Win To Nil (vs. Czech Republic) @ 11/8 (Bet Victor)