De Sciglio relishing Italy chance against Germany

Montpellier - Mattia De Sciglio remembers watching Italy suffer joy and heartbreak at major finals, but he is hoping to play a role when the Azzurri look to book a Euro 2016 semi-final spot against Germany on Saturday.

AC Milan midfielder De Sciglio was only a teenager when he watched Italy upset pre-tournament predictions to beat France in the final of the 2006 World Cup.

Six years later, he was on holiday - "probably in Ibiza" - when Spain broke Italian hearts in Kiev after a 4-0 rout in the final of Euro 2012.

But two years after the humbling experience of a second successive first-round exit from the World Cup, Italy is again defying expectations to reach the last eight - and De Sciglio has been given a key role to play.

Antonio Conte's men face Germany less than a week after an impressive 2-0 win over two-time holder Spain, but without midfielders Daniele De Rossi (thigh) and Thiago Motta (suspension).

It has given De Sciglio a chance to play "the biggest match" of his fledgling Italy career, and although respectful of Joachim Loew's men, the 23-year-old believes he can help keep the Italian 'tifosi' (fans) dreaming.

"It will be an even more complicated match because, physically, they're better than Spain," De Sciglio said.

"They have a different style of play and we're probably going to suffer a bit more, but if we prepare well and believe in ourselves we can cause them problems.

"We don't have star players, so we have to work together, help each other and try to leave everything out there."

Italy, whose midfield has been decimated by the loss of Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio to injury and the non-selection of Andrea Pirlo, has been playing to its strengths as a collective at Euro 2016, a strategy that is paying dividends.