Vieri marvels at Iniesta wizardry: "He's like a Spanish Harry Potter”

Italy-Spain Live

Christian Vieri will be closely following events in Paris this evening as Spain take on Italy at Stade de France. He's still fondly remembered at Atlético de Madrid - his hat trick against PAOK Salonika is still wistfully talked about in bars in the capital; Diario AS sat down for a chat with him to look ahead to today's game.

Tell us, what's a capocanonieri  like Vieri doing with himself these days?

I'm living in America. For the past three years I've been working in Miami as an analyst for beIN Sports. As you know yourself, watching football all day long, which is what I love doing.

How do you see today's game between Spain and Italy in Paris?

It's going to be a very difficult game for us. To be honest it would have been better for both os us if we had avoided each other. For me, Spain is the strongest side at Euro 2016. They only had a problem in the second half against Croatia which left them second in the group but they practice an incredible style of football, one which you recognize right away.

And they have Iniesta...

Yes, they've got Iniesta... He reminds me of Harry Potter. He does some incredible things on the pitch - things which I have never seen in over 30 years as a player. Him, Busquets, Piqué, Ramos… all of them are great players, top level footballers.

Do you think the departure of some of the big name players of the past has weakened Spain?

Not so much, no. Of course, players like Xavi and Puyol were great champions and carried a lot of weight within the side. Xavi didn't make the wrong pass once in 15 years! Even though they're gone, Sain still has a very strong and dangerous side.

Young players such as Morata have entered the side - a striker like yourself. What do you think of him?

He's an incredible No.9, a very complete striker. When he decides to put the hard work in, he's a player who contribute a lot to the team because his movement is good. Being a striker isn't just about scoring goals, it's also about making an effort for the team and bringing something else to the team's play. He's coming along and has improved step by step which is what he's needed to do and now he's an important player for Spain.

One of Spain's trademarks if you like is their high-possession, passing style. Are you a fan of that kind of football?

Yes, of course I am. For me, the style which Spain have developed is the best in the world. It's a joy for spectators to watch.

Can you see Spain coming unstuck against Italy's formidible defence?

The current Italy team doesn't have as many star players as it did in the past but as a team, they work very hard and have the best defence and the best goalkeeper in the world. It is very difficult for anyone to put a goal past them. I'd even go as far as saying that it's difficult to create chances on goal against them. Our main charactertic has to be the defence, it makes sense. And especially against a team like Spain.

Conte appears to have recovered Italy's catenaccio style?

Conte plays with three centre-backs and he has really locked down the team at the back with Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini. The only team in the world who can play with three in defence and become champions is Italy because right now, those three are the best defenders around. Other teams cannot be as competitive using that system no matter how hard they try.

What can you tell us about Buffon?

What can I say? He's a genius. I played alongside him for 15 years and let me tell you he is an authentic phenomenon. From my time, there's only him and De Rossi still active.

Some suggest that Italy are a "bit lightweight" in attack…

It's normal. Now there's no Inzaghi, Del Piero, Totti, Montella… players who scored 300 goals for the national team. Now, in Italy, there are no strikers who can promise that amount of goals. Maybe in other national teams in Europe but not in Italy right now. We're in the middle of a generational shift and you can't always have top level strikers. But that said, I don't think it's a huge problem for us, because the team works very hard as a unit.

Italy don't have a Vieri and your old team Atlético are on the lookout for a top striker. Do you still follow what Atleti are doing?

Oh yes, I follow them, I follow them all the time. Atlético have done a great job during the past three years - on a club level, the players, the coach... everything. The leap they have made in quality on every level is just incredible.

Do you know how fondly they remember you at the Calderón?

I'm not surprised! I spent a year there and ended as the pichichi!

Good luck tonight, let's hope we see a great game, whoever wins!

Sure, it's just a shame we had to meet so early in the tournament...