Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

We're so used to the Italians and talking about how well defensively they are. This team is not only good defensively because they haven't conceded in their last 11 games, but that's taken nothing away from their forward play. There are five or six players always in the positions to cause damage. They play some wonderful football. They haven't been seriously tested yet, but you cant take their record for granted.

Austria's last win against Italy was in a friendly in 1960. The Azzurri are unbeaten in the subsequent 13 meetings, winning 10 of those matches.

The sides have never met before at a European Championship finals, but all four encounters at the World Cup saw Italy win by a single-goal margin.

The last meeting was a friendly in August 2008 which ended in a 2-2 draw.

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Former Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has joined Eilidh Barbour pitchside at Wembley:

On Roberto Mancini: "He's a great guy first of all. He's trying to impose his ideas of when he was a football player and he's turned it around quite well and has done an incredible job so far. He was very clever in the sense that he's opened up opportunities for everyone. He's trying to get as many players involved in the national team and that's why he has the team he has now. The players are responding and playing the way he wanted. He was under a lot of pressure when he took the job because they didn't qualify, but now they are one of the candidates to win."

On whether Italy are one of the Euro 2020 favourites: "They are one of the favourites. They were already in the beginning, but when you see them play they continue to be so because so far their performances are the best."

Christian Fuchs
Former Austria left-back on BBC World Service

What I’ve missed when Arnautovic was not playing was the hold-up play. You need a striker that can keep the ball. You feed it into his feet, he can keep it against the defence and he doesn’t lose it right away, the ball doesn’t bounce back. He’s definitely good at that. He can draw fouls. He can retain possession for your team to push up. Besides that, he’s a great player. He’s a street player who knows how to defend himself, knows how to score. He has shown that and – but not in the last game against Ukraine when he had a really big chance – but he has shown it against North Macedonia, and he has shown that he is simply a threat. His presence alone draws two-three players from the opposition which creates space for other teammates. That’s where his biggest value comes into the game: his presence.

Jurgen Klinsmann
Former Germany head coach on BBC One

Image source, Reuters

I don't think Austria will sit back completely just to wait to see what the Italians do. They will try and find their own chances and play their own game.

They have very good technically gifted players Xaver Schlager and Marcel Sabitzer, and Marko Arnautovic can hurt you in any second of the game.

So I think it will be quite an open game and after 20 minutes of checking one another out, both will go for it.

David Alaba created nine chances in the group stage, at least four more than any other Austrian.

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Christian Fuchs
Former Austria left-back on BBC World Service

It means a lot. It’s such a joy to be able to experience that, For me, it was a logical progress of the team when you see how many players play in top leagues at the moment. Honestly, it was just a matter of time until they make it out of the group stage in the Euros. I’m literally very proud of how the team performed, and there’s a nice opponent waiting for them now.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

Italy have been the most impressive team in the tournament so far without being seriously tested. No goals conceded, scored seven. Mancini's used 25 of his 26 man squad so they've got momentum and it seems like a very happy camp.

Jurgen Klinsmann
Former Germany head coach on BBC One

Image source, EPA

If you look at the Austria team, they are all very experienced players. David Alaba first and foremost but a lot of the players play in the German Bundesliga and they will give Italy a tough time.

They will be nasty, they will be all over the Italians and they will try and frustrate them. They know they are the outsiders but they have nothing to lose.

Austria have had a pretty decent tournament so far. They won two games in the group stages - a 3-1 win over North Macedonia and a 1-0 victory over Ukraine.

They lost 2-0 to the Netherlands too but will face their toughest test yet when they take on Italy, who have been in superb form.

Can they cause an upset?

Jurgen Klinsmann
Former Germany head coach on BBC One

Image source, EPA

What Roberto Mancini has done over the past three years is just incredible. He has transformed this Italian team into a far more proactive, positive and entertaining side.

Italy has always been famous for sitting back, waiting and then counter-attacking. Not under Mancini. He gives them trust, energy and a philosophy to go for it.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales reporter

As Italy saw out the closing moments of their 1-0 win over Wales, the home crowd at Rome's Stadio Olimpico started singing Notti Magiche, the song of the 1990 World Cup, the last major tournament to be played in the country.

It was a nod to a gilded past and, at the same time, a celebration of the present and a glittering future.

From the ashes of their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, a new Italy has emerged. The defensive steel of bygone generations remains but, under manager Roberto Mancini, there is a newfound flair.

Read more here.

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Italy believe they can go all the way on the pitch, but off it, I think Roberto Mancini has already won the coolest manager award.

I mean, come on.

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Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Italy have played 17 hours and 35 minutes of football since they last conceded a goal.

Donny van de Beek scored against them for the Netherlands in a 1-1 draw in the Nations League back in October.

They are also on a 30-game unbeaten run (W25, D5), which has equalled an 82-year-old national record.

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This is Austria's first appearance in the knockout stage of the European Championship.

It's also their first at any major tournament since the 1954 World Cup, when they reached the semi-finals.

They won two of their three group-stage games, having failed to win any in 2008 and 2016.

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Roberto Mancini makes seven changes to the much-changed Italy side that saw off Wales 1-0 in the final group game.

Chelsea Champions League winner Jorginho starts his fourth match of Euro 2020, while Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne - who have three goals between them at this tournament - return to the starting XI.

Defender Francesco Acerbi is making his first start of the tournament.

Italy XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Acerbi, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Berardi, Immobile, Insigne.

Austria are keeping it nice and simple.

They name the same XI that beat Ukraine 1-0 last Monday to secure a first-ever appearance in the knockout stage of the European Championship.

That means former West Ham and Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic, who made his first start of Euro 2020 in the last game, keeps his place.

Austria are a settled team, with nine players making their fourth starts of the tournament.

Austria XI: Bachmann, Lainer, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Alaba, Schlager, Grillitsch, Laimer, Sabitzer, Baumgartner, Arnautovic.

Denmark have booked their place in the quarter-finals but who will join them?

Italy and Austria go head-to-head for a place at Wembley in just over half an hour...

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