Italy coach Antonio Conte has spoken of his pride at being able to represent his country at the European Championship in France next summer as he hopes for a winning end to qualifying against Norway on Tuesday.
The Squadra Azzurra qualified for Euro 2016 with a game to spare thanks to a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan on Saturday, and they can wrap up top spot by avoiding defeat and remaining unbeaten in qualifying when they welcome Norway to Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
Regardless of the outcome, however, Conte is already looking forward to next summer, when he gets to prepare his team to represent the nation in France.
"To go to a European Championship or World Cup and represent Italy is a beautiful thing -- a unique opportunity," he said at a news conference. "There aren't that many national team coaches around and, whenever it was somebody else [coaching Italy], I was always jealous of them.
"Now I've got the possibility to do it myself and it's going to be fantastic."
Defending an unbeaten qualifying record is the minimum aim for Italy, but victory could come with an even greater reward.
As things stand, Italy are set to miss out on a top seeding for the draw on Dec. 12, but that could still change on Tuesday night. Italy need to beat Norway no matter what to have any chance, and then it will come down to Belgium's result against Israel.
Should Belgium draw or lose, Italy would snatch the final top seeding. Should the Red Devils win, Italy would need to beat Norway by at least four more goals than the margin by which Belgium beat Israel.
To make things even more interesting, Norway are not yet sure of joining Italy in that draw in Paris. A victory for Croatia in Malta would oblige Norway to win in the Italian capital to qualify, and also snatch the top spot from Italy.
"It's not going to be a walk in the park, but it won't be for them either," Conte said. "We're ready to face a Norway side who have come on leaps and bounds and are vying with Croatia for qualification together with us.
"We want to win. We are at home and we want to do well. Our aim has always got to be the very top, which means we want to win."
Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo misses out through injury while Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has a calf strain and will also watch on from the sidelines.
"I really don't feel like risking him," Conte said. "If this was an all-or-nothing game then I'd maybe think about it, but it would be a gamble and I'm also deciding for the good of his club."
Conte also indicated that the likes of Mario Balotelli and Giuseppe Rossi have plenty of work to do if they are to force their way into his plans.
"I'm going to take note of the group that got us here, and whoever wants to join in will have to deserve it twice as much, and will have to work much harder to take the place of those that are here," he said.