Conte will be the difference – Tavecchio

Italian football federation president Carlo Tavecchio believes Antonio Conte will be the difference for the national side at Euro 2016 in France this summer.

Conte will be leaving the Azzurri after the European Championships to take over at soon-to-be deposed Premier League champions Chelsea.

The 46-year-old, who enjoyed great success while in charge of Juventus from 2011-14, is one of the most highly-rated managers in the game and he will need all of his experience to turn things around at Stamford Bridge.

Conte will be hoping to end his time with the national team in perfect fashion by winning the Euro title and the 1968 champions are priced at 17.00 to triumph for a second time.

Italy were in fantastic form in the qualification stage as they topped their group ahead of second-placed Croatia, with seven wins and three draws.

Southampton’s Graziano Pelle managed to bag three goals while Eder, Antonio Candreva and Giorgio Chiellini all found the back of the net twice.

Tavecchio has praised the influence the current manager has on the squad and is confident he can spur the players onto glory.

“Conte is our strength, our guarantee, our certainty,” he told the Corriere dello Sport. “Without him I wouldn’t be so optimistic. He holds together a whole football system that aims to do well at Euro 2016.

“A person like him on the bench means that all the players and the staff can give more than 100 per cent. Dreams are a good thing and they don’t cost us anything.”

Italy have been drawn against Belgium, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in Group E and are second favourites at 2.60 to top the pool.