Nothing appears to galvanise Italy like a crisis and they will need every ounce of their renowned resilience if they are to stave off the latest turmoil in the camp. Victory against Romania in their second group C match in Zurich this evening would help.

Few observers expected Italy to lose 3-0 against Holland - their heaviest defeat in 25 years - in their opening game on Monday. Yet few will have been surprised to hear that, subsequently, apparent murmurs of discontent in the camp have emerged.

According to reports in Italy, Roberto Donadoni, the coach, has lost the support of the dressing-room. Despite him signing a new two-year contract shortly before the tournament started, his future is in doubt.

If Italy fail, a two-way escape clause in the new contract could resolve the problem, although Donadoni observed recently: “I don't believe there is a need for an escape clause as for me if the results are negative in the European tournament I would be the first to step aside.”

Italy have seen it all before. As the Serie A match-fixing scandal rumbled on at the time of the World Cup finals in 2006, they closed their eyes to trouble back home, adopted a siege mentality in Germany and went on to be crowned world champions.

Fabio Grosso, the Lyons left back, believes that a similar mentality is needed again. “All 23 of us are pulling together to try to achieve the same goal,” he said. “We must prove that we are in form and all in it together. The strength of this side has always been our team spirit. We will do our best to show how united we still are.”

Grosso is aware, though, that a repeat of the display against Holland could lead to Italy making an early exit from the finals. “We definitely need to change lots of things,” he said. “We know we got the first match wrong and, when you play only three matches in the group, you can't afford any more slip-ups.”

At least Grosso, who scored the penalty that won the World Cup two years ago, could still appreciate the excellence of the Dutch. “They are certainly among the best sides here,” he said. “Spain also played a great match against Russia so they are ones to watch.

“But we must think only of Romania. On paper, they are not the strongest side in the group, but we weren't exactly brilliant against Holland ourselves. So against Romania, we must be determined, full of belief. We see it as a crunch match and we are ready to give it our best shot.”