U21 Euro 2007: Serbia v Italy Preview

Captain Giorgio Chiellini is convinced Italy's elimination in the group stage of last year's UEFA European Under-21 Championship was an accident that will not be repeated and believes the lure of yet another title will be powerful motivation for the Azzurrini as they prepare for their first Group B game against Serbia.

Italy went into their third and final Group B game in Portugal last summer top of the section but ended the day in third place, and out of the competition, as Daniel de Ridder's 74th-minute strike gave the Netherlands a 1-0 win that took them into the semi-finals – and set them on their way to lifting the trophy – at Italy's expense.

"We didn't feel inferior to any of the teams who got into the semi-finals last year," said Chiellini. "We still haven't come to terms with that defeat yet, because we were dreaming of such big things and to concede a late goal and be knocked out in such a sad way is too hard to forget. But having the possibility to play in another European Championship and fight for the title again will be a very strong motivation for this squad."

The Juventus left-back believes his side's approach to the finals will be all-important after a long and gruelling season, saying: "It is a question of going into the tournament with the right attitude - the one we showed against Spain in the play-offs. We've recharged our batteries over the last week and don't feel tired any more. We're all now really looking forward to doing well with the real hope of lasting the course over what will hopefully be a two-week tournament for us. The opening game is always the most difficult as it may be the one which determines the course of our team in the group, we’re all aware of that.

"Serbia are a very strange team in the sense they're capable of winning easily and losing heavily, as they showed in the play-offs when they lost 3-0 to Sweden but then beat them 5-0 away," the 23-year-old added. "They've got great individuals who are capable of doing anything and then ruining it all in a second. But if we assume England are our toughest rivals, Serbia are without doubt the outsiders of the group who could put the favourites in serious difficulties. So it's important to get that first win and set ourselves up for the rest of the group."

[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]