Four years ago, in the final of Euro 2012, Italy made a crucial mistake: They tried to hang with Spain. They played their game and attempted to out-pass and out-create the 2010 World Cup champions. In different circumstances, it might have worked. Heck, it almost did in the group stage, when they drew 1-1.
But on that July day in the final, it was like trying out-jump shoot Stephen Curry, outsmart Warren Buffett or out-funk George Clinton. It was never going to work, and Italy were road-graded, 4-0.
Four years on and with a far less talented side in midfield and attack, there's zero chance that Italy coach Antonio Conte will attempt anything like that against Vicente del Bosque's Spain in Paris.