Christian Vieri says he now looks forward to watching Italy play again, thanks to the work of Antonio Conte, whom he rates as one of the best coaches around together with Bayern's Pep Guardiola.
Vieri represented Italy 49 times and scored 23 goals for his country, but since losing his place in the national team a year before their 2006 World Cup triumph, he has barely followed the fortunes of the Squadra Azzurra.
That has changed over the past year, however, since former Juventus coach Conte took the helm and got Italy playing the kind of football "Bobo" Vieri likes.
"Let's hope it continues," Vieri told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "There's discipline and organisation in the national team again. Conte and Guardiola are, for me, the best two coaches in the world.
"I've started to watch the national team again for the first time in ages. I can see enthusiasm, courage and heart, all the things people ask for. I'm proud of this team, and just you watch how we cause everybody problems at the European Championship."
Vieri, whose autobiography comes out on Friday, also believes the enthusiasm for Italian football is beginning to grow again around Europe, with the current season set to be one of the tightest in years.
"I can feel the air is different and our teams are finally doing well in Europe again," continued the 42-year-old. "The top players have started to cast a glance at our league again."
What they see is an Inter Milan side capable, after two disappointing years, to win the Scudetto once again, thanks to another coach Vieri rates highly.
"They are really serious candidates, thanks above all to [Roberto] Mancini," Vieri said. "He's outstanding. There are very few around in the world who understand football like he does. In six months, he has turned Inter around, transforming a normal team into one of the most serious contenders for the title.
"Many of their new signings chose to come for Roberto. It makes me laugh [when people say Inter are not playing well]. Can you remember how they were a few months ago? The defence was the first thing that needed fixing and Mancio has done that,
"You win the Scudetto by conceding few goals and from now on, you'll start to see a lot of things starting to work also in the opposition's half of the field. They've got their enthusiasm back and the San Siro is often full, and when that stadium is vibrating, it can really hurt the opponents. The Mancini effect is quite clear."
Vieri won the Coppa Italia with Inter in 2005, although his one and only Serie A title came back in 1997 with Juventus.