No country knows the threat of Romelu Lukaku as well as Italy. The high press yields a turnover and the ball is immediately sent in the big striker's direction. He gets a touch but out comes Gianluigi Donnarumma to save.

Because he's magic, you see. How fit is he, though?

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Harry Potter - Kevin de Bruyne - is so important for Belgium. I have a feeling for Italy though

Kristof Terreur: "Belgium always go back to the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat against France in Russia. They are now open to doing it another way now. We have gone more business-wise, less expansive and less attacking because we have our issues with the defence. Martinez has adapted and there are players with experience. If we are winning ugly, we are winning ugly."

Julien Laurens: "If you can reproduce with the national team the spirit and style of a club, that is when you will go far. In three years, for Mancini to do what he has done with a young squad, it is impressive. It might be too early for them. But they can potentially win the World Cup next year."

Oof, I am looking forward to this. Please don't let us down.

The game is under way in the Allianz after both teams take a knee.

Belgium rise to the occasion. It's not a banger like Italy's but they give their anthem a good go.

Image source, Getty Images

There is one Italian fella in the stands who is really up for this. Not seen that many identical punches thrown into the air since my Streetfighter II days.

Yep. With gusto.

Here we go then. Here come the teams. One thing we know for sure - Italy players are going to belt out this anthem.

Is this the bromance of the Euros?

Former Sampdoria and Italy team-mates Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli are clearly loving every second of the tournament so far.

The sharp suits don't hurt the look, either.

There is some focus in the Belgium press on what has been said by their opponents.

Daily paper La Libre, external reports comments by Italian coach Roberto Mancini, who said he is “aware that Italy will have to face one of the best teams in the world, and that it will be a difficult match…

"Alongside France, Belgium may well be the best team in Europe, if not the world, and it can rely on extraordinary players. But this competition has proven that, more than ever, there are no easy matches.”

Image source, Gazzetta dello Sport

Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, external notes some key differences in the set up of the two teams: “They are tall, big and more experienced. We have fairly ‘regular’ physiques (you can tell this at a glance during the anthems) but we run further… They are considerably older: Belgium’s average age is 30, Italy’s is 27. But we have other weapons, like Spinazzola’s speed. A close look at Belgium-Italy shows they are two radically different teams, and not only from a tactical point of view.”

Image source, Corriere dello Sport

It seems that the image in that last tweet has struck terror into many Italian commentators.

Much of the pre-match coverage on Italian papers is devoted to Lukaku himself: “Who will stop Romelu Lukaku?” wonders, external La Gazzetta dello Sport; “Lukaku is fear-inducing,” Emanuele Giaccherini is reported, external as saying; “We’ll all work together to stop Lukaku,” Corriere dello Sport quotes, external Francesco Acerbi.

I know football is never this simple, but on the evidence of what I've seen so far, whichever of these two teams get through should wipe the floor with Spain.

Jurgen Klinsmann
Former Germany head coach on BBC One

If you are a young, fit, Chiesa, this is the moment to shine. He came on in the last 16 and made the difference. Belgium's defence isn't the youngest anywhere and Chiesa will fancy his chances here.