Antonio Conte has urged his team to produce something extraordinary to get past reigning champions Spain at the Stade de France on Monday.
Spain knocked Italy out on penalties in the quarter-finals before going on to lift the 2008 European title, and then embarrassed the Italians with a 4-0 thrashing in the final in Kiev four years ago.
Conte, who will take his reign at Stamford Bridge after the tournament, believes his side are under-dogs, but is confident there won't be a repeat of the 2012 clash.
"We have huge respect for Spain because we know that we are playing against one of the top sides in the world, one of the favourites to win the European Championship," he told a pre-match news conference.
"That said, we have worked hard and prepared for the fixture. It's a last 16 match, there is no tomorrow for one of the two sides.
"Right from the outset I've said we mustn't go away with any recriminations of any kind. We must know we've given everything, at all times in every match.
"If the opposition then prove to be better than us we'll be the first to applaud them. Should that not happen, I want my players to win the match."
"We have to go further than reason and find something within us to produce something extraordinary because ordinary will not be enough tomorrow. I believe I have the players to do that.
"Nothing is impossible. I do not want to go home, we do not want to go home. We are not going to be the sacrificial lamb for Spain on the pitch."