England are set to come up against the best defence in international football when they meet Italy on Tuesday, according to Leonardo Bonucci.
Italy coach Antonio Conte is set to rely on the solid foundations upon which he won three straight Serie A titles with Juventus before taking charge of the national team last summer when the Three Lions visit the Juventus Stadium.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon should find Juve teammates Giorgio Chiellini, fit-again Andrea Barzagli and Bonucci in front of him for the friendly in Turin -- as well as in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria on Saturday -- with the latter believing the back line to be second to none.
"Just look at the statistics," Bonucci told a news conference. "I don't want to boast, but I, Buffon, Barzagli and Chiellini are the best defence at international level.
"We've got to thank the various coaches who have taught us, in particular Conte who gave us a new vision of how to defend with preventative marking and other things. If you're lined up well on the field, then everything's so much easier."
The quartet's club, Juve, have conceded just 14 goals in 28 Serie A games this season, although Barzagli has only just returned to action after a year-long injury absence.
That is one more than the 13 Bayern Munich have shipped in the Bundesliga, although the Bavarians have played two fewer games. It is far fewer, however, than any other side in Europe's leading leagues.
Only Bayern and Monaco, meanwhile, have conceded fewer in the Champions League so far this season than Juventus, who face the French side in the quarterfinals.
"We've reached the 'G8' of Europe [in the Champions League] and we've been a little bit lucky with the draw," Bonucci said. "But watch out -- Monaco are a great side and you don't knock out a big team like Arsenal by fluke."