Inter Milan players look to clearly at the forefront as Luciano Spalletti looks to breathe new life into the Italy national team.
Italian outlet FCInterNews highlight the importance of the core of Nerazzurri players to this Azzurri side.
Italy coach Spalletti called up just three Inter players for this international break.
Midfielder Nicolo Barella stayed back so that he could undergo a nose operation.
Meanwhile, defender Francesco Acerbi was fit and available after having missed the Euros recovering from surgery.
But Spalletti declined to call up the veteran, as he looks to focus on younger player. It is a similar story with the 34-year-old Matteo Darmian.
Inter Milan At The Heart Of Spalletti Italy Reboot
Even with the veterans out and Barella on the sidelines, though, there has still been plenty of Inter representation in the Italy squad.
The three Nerazzurri players in the squad may be down from five at the Euros.
However, it is worth noting that all three were in the starting eleven against France.
Moreover, the Inter players were vital to Italy getting a statement result with a 3-1 victory over Les Bleus.
At the back, Alessandro Bastoni was the leader of Italy’s back three.
And in midfield, Davide Frattesi played a key role in the absence of Barella. The former Sassuolo man may not be a regular starter for his club – but for the national team, he is a key man.
Lastly, on the left flank Federico Dimarco gave a demonstration of his quality.
The 26-year-old is now clearly first-choice both for Inter and for Italy.
Once Barella is back in the setup, there is little question that he will also be a key starter for the Azzurri.
Of course, there are other young players who showed their quality on Friday.
The likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Sandro Tonali, and Samuele Ricci all stood out.
But it was the trio of Inter players who are clearly forming the core for the Azzurri.