As the creative hub from which everything revolves, Andrea Pirlo is the key cog in Cesare Prandelli's Italian machine.

Dubbed 'l'architetto' (the architect) by team-mates, his vision and range of passing make him potentially the best deep-lying playmaker in the world; and that's certainly something Italy will want to exploit in Poland and Ukraine.

With a probable duo of Daniele De Rossi and Claudio Marchisio alongside him in the Azzurri's midfield, Pirlo will have free range to pretty much do as he pleases, a trick he has perfected for Juventus this season.

The Lombardy-born midfielder has enjoyed something of a renaissance this season, having left Milan for the Bianconeri in the summer.

Pirlo is now seen as the catalyst for the Old Lady's recent Scudetto triumph. His 37 appearances for the Turin giants this campaign yielded 13 assists: the most in Serie A, and he's also contributed three vital goals: at home to Roma and Catania, as well as away at Fiorentina back in March.

Parma boss Franco Colomba put it best when he said back in April: "Pirlo is Juve's extra man, he is the player who has allowed the others around him to grow. I think that has made the real difference this season."

And that sentiment was most recently echoed by Italian sports journalists, as they named him Serie A's Player of the Season.

The 32-year-old is one of only four players - along with Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli and De Rossi - to have been named in Prandelli's squad remaining from the World Cup triumph six years ago: a testament to his enduring quality.

That tournament experience will also be crucial in and around the camp, with the likes of Emmanuele Giaccherini, Ezequiel Schelotto and Marco Veratti all being called up for the first time.

As well as that obvious high of winning the World Cup in Germany back in 2006, he will also want to make amends for the Azzurri's dreadful showing two years ago in South Africa. It was a tournament to forget for the entire squad, but especially Pirlo: former boss Marcelo Lippi dropped him from the team, sending him on for just half an hour in their last group game against Slovakia.

Prandelli though, has learned from his predecessor's mistakes, and has made Pirlo the fulcrum of the side. A challenge that the man himself clearly feels he is up to: "I always believed I was number one and I believe I have demonstrated it again this season."

Italians call him a 'regista', or, a 'quarterback', but whatever he is, no one in Europe can match Pirlo's calm mastery on a football pitch. He's both metronome and compass; shield and dagger. He is Italy's key man at Euro 2012.