The day has come. Months of speculation, build-up and eager anticipation finally comes to a head at the Olympic Stadium in Rome tonight when two of world's soccer powers, England and Italy, clash in a final European Group Two World Cup qualifier which could cost one of them a place in next year's France '98 finals.
This is the sort of game that constitutes the very life-blood of international soccer. Two old rivals, each proud of its traditions and each convinced that it really has a firm grasp of the footballing "Holy Grail", come face to face in a 75,000 capacity packed Olympic Stadium that provides a worthy setting.
Do the tensions that have quietly surfaced within the Italian camp this week mean that the Italians doubt their own ability to win a game in which England need only a draw to qualify and put Italy into the play-offs?
Has English soccer's undeniable progress in recent seasons arrived at the point where Glenn Hoddle's side can come to the intimidating Olympic Stadium and be mature enough to hold onto its initial one point advantage? Does Manchester United's highly impressive 3-2 drubbing of Italian champions, Juventus, in the Champions League 10 days ago mean anything in relation to this game?
Or can Italy repeat their 1-0 Wembley success of last February. Will English soccer's "progress" be rendered illusory by an instinctive enthusiasm for "getting stuck in" rather than for thinking their way through a complex tie?
Answers should be forthcoming tonight, even if it is probably misleading to imagine that one such game, however important, can deliver definitive judgments on all soccer things English or Italian.
In the build up to the game, definitive judgments on more prosaic considerations such as team selections were hard to come by yesterday. In the warm sunshine of the Olympic Stadium, Italian coach Cesare Maldini told us: "Sono tranquillo".
I am calm, he said. Maldini has said that he expects England to come out fighting tonight, rather than attempting to play for a draw. All week long, noises from the English camp suggest they intend to do just that, with Teddy Sheringham and Ian Wright leading the charge.
Yesterday, Glenn Hoddle was no more forthcoming about his side than Maldini, saying only that he will name the team one hour before the game as he has always done. Hoddle's biggest worries are centred on Manchester United's midfielder David Beckham and Aston Villa defender Garth Southgate, the former down with 'flu and the latter suffering from a leg muscle problem.
One gets the impression that Hoddle will do all he can to get Beckham back to full fitness, while being happy enough to play Gary Neville in place of Southgate and along with Graeme Le Saux and Tony Adams.
Hoddle has spent so much time and energy this week protecting the enigmatic Paul Gascoigne that it seems certain the former Lazio player will play in what was once his home stadium. Along with the combative Paul Ince and David Batty, Gascoigne's midfield contribution could be vital.
In contrast to some of his team mates who, at least in the pages of the British popular press, have been making bellicose pre-match declarations, England goalkeeper David Seaman tried to play down the game yesterday, pointing out that unlike in Rotterdam four years ago (when England were effectively eliminated from the USA '94 finals by Holland), not everything hangs on this game.
"This is not an all or nothing affair, the side that loses out tomorrow can still get to France via the play-offs. But I'd have to say that the mood in the England camp is very good"
The mood in the Italian camp seemed somewhat more tense. Cautious as ever, Maldini revealed nothing about the two areas of uncertainty in his team selection. Experienced Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara is still in doubt because of a pulled right thigh muscle, while Maldini declined to indicate his replacement for suspended Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo.
The coach did say that Ferrara would undergo a late fitness test, adding the enlightening observation: "If Ferrara doesn't play, that's not a problem. The guy who'll come on in his place is a good player".
The name of the "guy" in question, however, was not for publication. Most of us suspect that the "guy" will be five times capped, 21-year-old Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta, but Maldini was not telling. Nor would he respond when asked about Di Matteo's replacement saying only that he had plenty of options available.
Two players, Attillio Lombardo of Crystal Palace and Diego Fuser of Lazio, are in line for the place. If Fuser comes in, he will play in midfield alongside Demetrio Albertini and Dino Baggio, leaving Angelo Di Livio free to line out in his usual right back berth. If Lombardo plays, it will be in the right back position, forcing Di Livio up to midfield.
For all Maldini's prevarication, there seems little doubt about most of his starting line-up. Zola, the matchwinner in Wembley, starts alongside Atletico Madrid's Christian Vieri in attack, while Albertini and Dino Baggio in midfield, Paolo Maldini at left back, Fabio Cannavaro in central defence, Alessandro Costacurta as libero and Angelo Peruzzi in goal all seem certain starters.
