Italy produced a fine performance last night as Antonio Conte’s side opened their Euro 2016 campaign with a shock win against highly rated Belgium in Lyon.

Two counter attacking goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle sealed the 2-0 victory which was celebrated by 38-year-old Gianluigi Buffon, as if they had just won the tournament itself.

The Azzurri went into the tournament with little expectations, boasting an on-paper lacklustre and ageing squad, but once again defied the critics and produced an exceptional all round display to throw themselves back into the mixer of Europe’s elite.

It was a typical Italy performance. Solid to a tee and intelligent as a unit, the defensive cohort of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci was almost impenetrable, and gave an albeit misfiring Romelu Lukaku barely even a sniff at goal.

The performance may just please Chelsea fans just as much as the Italian’s however, as the mastermind behind toppling the tournaments top rated team was their manager in waiting Antonio Conte.

Over the years, Chelsea have perhaps been at their most successful when built on a solid defence, exhibit A being their ‘park the bus’ Champions League style victories over Barcelona and Bayern Munich back in 2012.

As such Conte and Chelsea seem a match made in heaven, and the Italian boss will certainly look to cement the same kind of solidity at the Bridge, as he has done for the Azzurri.

Conte may bring some of his Italian stars to the Blue’s alongside him next season, which has had our Chelsea fans at the tavern jumping for joy.

Here is their dream back line next season including Man Utd's Matteo Darmian if Conte can get his way in the Transfer window……

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE CONTE'S DREAM 2016/17 DEFENCE!

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RB - Matteo Darmian

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Italy’s and Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as of late, but our fans at the Transfer Tavern would much prefer his international counterpart Mattia De Sciglio to make the switch to Southwest London this summer.

The 23-year-old AC Milan full-back mightily impressed when subbed on for Darmian last night, and looked solid at the back, whilst also comfortable in possession and a threat on the counter.

CB - Leonardo Bonucci

Bonucci

Pep Guardiola described Bonucci as one as his ‘favourite ever players’ after his Bayern Munich side clashed with Juventus in the last 16 of the Champion's League last season.

Quite a compliment from a man who has won nearly everything there is to in European football, both as a manager and a player.

Guardiola is right in his admiration for the big Italian however, as Bonucci is as composed as they come at the back, a colossus in the air and strong in the tackle.

CB - Kurt Zouma

Zouma

Blues fans were mightily upset to see their young centre back Zouma rule himself out for the rest of the season, when he suffered an horrific knee injury back in February against Manchester United.

The Frenchman was one of the only stand out performers during Chelsea’s dismal start to the season, and began to show the kind of form that had scouts raging about him whilst at former club St. Etienne.

Matter far beyond his years, Zouma could become one of the world’s best.

LB - Cesar Azpilicueta

Cesar Azpilicueta

The Spanish full-back has to be the one of the most unfortunate players at this summer’s Euros.

Azpiliceuta can count himself horridly unlucky not to be starting for Spain, as he is pipped to a start position only by Barcelona’s Jordi Alba.

The former Marseille man would near on walk into any other international side as he has been one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers of the last few years, despite playing in his unflavoured position.