The two highly-fancied nations, who meet in Vienna`s Ernst Happel Stadion on Sunday, could hardly have had more contrasting routes to the last eight.

While Spain eased through their pool with a 100% record, reigning world champions Italy did it the hard way and after losing to Holland and drawing with Romania, they made it out of the "Group of Death" with a 2-0 win over France.

However, Alonso is not giving much relevance to how the two sides qualified from their respective groups, saying: "A lot of times they have have struggled to get through the group stages but once they get into the quarter-finals or semi-finals they put out their best and it was quite similar in the (2006) World Cup, so we will have to be quite cautious about that," Alonso said.

"It is going to be difficult because Italy have a lot of experience. Whenever they are playing for something important they give their best and we know them very well.

"It's going to be very exciting and hopefully we will perform at a good enough level to go through."

The Liverpool midfielder was talking following Spain's 2-1 victory over Greece in Salzburg, a match in which he was handed the captaincy of a much-changed team.

Although it was Dani Guiza who won the game for Luis Aragones` men with his late header, it was Alonso who was named man of the match following a classy midfield performance which included two shots which, if they had gone in, would have been contenders for goal of the tournament.

The first saw Alonso attempt an effort from the halfway line which flew just inches wide of the top corner of Antonis Nikopolidis` net, while his second was a 30-yard thunderbolt that thumped against the inside of the post before fizzing across the face of the goal.

Alonso is no stranger to spectacular goals having scored from inside his own half for Liverpool, and the 26-year-old has warned opposing goalkeepers he will continue to try his luck from distance.

"I tried to do that with the Spanish team this time, it was close. I will try it again, no problem," said Alonso, who admits that despite his fine display he may not be any closer to a starting berth against the Italians.

"It's tough to stay in the team because I know that the players who have been playing have managed to get us through, but whatever happens, if I play or if I am on the bench, I will be ready to play.

"I think I had a good performance, I don't know if it was my best one (for Spain). But I am very happy because most of the players have not been playing and the performance was quite good from everyone and we have to be delighted with that.

"It means that whoever plays will be able to perform at this level and that shows the whole squad is good enough."