Always rigid at the back, 2016 figures to provide more of the same stability at the back for the Italians as Juventus trio Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci form a rarely penetrable wall in front of their Bianconeri team-mate and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. They will be protected on the flanks by wing-backs Antonio Candreva and Matteo Darmian, who goes up against his Manchester United team-mate Fellaini.
In midfield, former Standard Liege team-mates Alex Witsel and Marouane Fellaini are joined by Roma’s Radja Nainggolan, who will be up against his club mate Daniele de Rossi. Romelu Lukaku leads the line with his 12 international goals, flanked by two of the Premier League’s best playmakers in Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne.