Italy coach Antonio Conte has played down expectations of a successful Euro 2016 for the Azzurri, saying unity will have to compensate for a lack of talent.
The Italians reached the final of the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, losing to Spain.
However, they went out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at the group stage.
"It isn't a good moment for our football," said Conte, who takes charge of Chelsea after the tournament.
"It's important that the squad has a good spirit. I work a lot at this. If we are able to find this way, it's possible to be an outsider."
So sparse is Italy's young talent, that Conte has picked the fourth-oldest squad of the tournament, with just seven out of the 23 players aged 25 or younger.
Conte, who is taking charge of his first major tournament as Italy boss, said the loss of Paris St-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti to injury was a particularly big blow for the team.
"He's the best young player in the national team and a player with great international experience with Paris St-Germain," Conte told the BBC's World Football programme in his first interview in English.
"The other young players are very, very good, but without international experience.
"It's very, very difficult to find strong young players. For this reason, we are working hard to become a good squad."
Conte, who won three successive Italian titles with Juventus before taking over the national team in 2014, said that unity includes the Italian fans and has urged them to stand by the Azzurri.
"Stay close to the national team. It's important for the players to feel your trust in them," he said.
"We know this is a moment that is difficult for us, but together we can overcome these difficulties."
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