Serie A Players Set to Star at Euro 2012

UEFA Euro 2012 begins on Friday with the guarantee of one month of incredible football. One of the least talked about giants at the competition is Italy, who enter the competition on Sunday against Spain before group matches with Croatia and the Republic of Ireland.

Cesare Prandelli's squad is loaded, filled with many of Serie A's greatest players, with only three players who play outside Italy.

However, Serie A will be represented by eight national squads at the tournament with a total of 31 players. With seven and six players respectively, the league's two giants, Juventus and AC Milan, are the most-represented at the competition. Roma (4), Bologna (2), Genoa (2), Napoli (2), Palermo (2), Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Lazio, Parma, Torino and Udinese are all also represented, meaning that 13 of Serie A's 20 clubs will be represented in Poland and Ukraine.

With 31 players involved, there are bound to be some star performances from Serie A's finest, so who will step out and be noticed above the rest in the pursuit of European glory?

Gianluigi Buffon, Goalkeeper, Italy and Juventus

Let's just go straight to the most obvious. Buffon could be 100 and he would still be a guarantee on this list.

Arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, the 34-year-old was the leader and brick wall when Italy won the World Cup in 2006. Despite no longer necessarily being in his prime, Buffon showed he's still the best during the 2011-12 club season, as he led Serie A in goals against, goals against average and clean sheets while steering Juventus to the Scudetto.

It should be helpful that he will have many of his faithful defenders with him on the field in Poland, but it doesn't matter if the attack gets past them—Buffon will probably stop them. Remember, Italy gave up only two goals during Qualifying. That says something.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Forward, Sweden and AC Milan

Ibrahimovic lit the net on fire during the 2011-12 season.

While failing to win a ninth consecutive domestic league title in his second year with AC Milan, Ibracadabra, as he is rightfully named, scored 28 league goals and a career-high 35 in all competitions, including crucial Champions League goals against the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal.

Sweden is being written off, playing in a group with England, France and host country Ukraine. However, with England's injury woes, France having to redeem its poor showing at the World Cup and the pressure on Ukraine, the Swedes could very well see themselves into the Quarterfinals. The captain will need to lead that charge.

He can score at will and from anywhere on the pitch as if by magic, hence his aforementioned nickname. We will need to see some of that Ibracadabra greatness from the player who is said to shy away in pressure situations if Sweden wants to be this year's Cinderella.

Antonio Cassano, Forward, Italy and AC Milan

No matter what happens to Italy, being on the Azzurri squad at all is a victory for Milan forward Antonio Cassano.

At the end of October, all talk of whether Cassano would be on the Euro squad was put to a halt when a more pressing issue presented itself: whether or not the 29-year-old would even live after suffering a stroke following Milan's match at Roma.

Against all odds, Cassano returned to the pitch for Milan on April 7 against Fiorentina. He played six more matches during the season, recording a goal and three assists as he continued to return to match strength.

Despite Italy getting embarrassed by Russia the other day in a warm-up for the tournament, Cassano and Mario Balotelli looked dangerous up top. With injury concerns for Balotelli, Cassano becomes even more important for Prandelli's men.

Will we see the Cassano of old, the one so famous for not only scoring but setting up teammates? Or does he still have some recovering to do?

Andrea Pirlo, Midfielder, Italy and Juventus

There are few that can change a game the way Andrea Pirlo does.

The Italian vice-captain may be 33, but he can still play at the highest level and did so for Juventus all season long as he helped bring the Scudetto to Turin.

Now, Pirlo must reach back and find some of that 2006 magic and bring it with him to Poland.

There are two groups of death this year, Groups B and C (Italy is in C). With Spain, Croatia and Ireland, Italy is in the absolute toughest group, as Croatia and Ireland can both play spoiler. Many are pegging Ireland as this year's 2004 Greece or 2008 Turkey. Italy will need to be at their best at all times. This is the last go-around for Pirlo at the European Championship.

Italy hasn't won since hosting in 1968. A legend like Pirlo, who has won everything besides this, deserves to go out having won it all. He will need to put in a memorable performance for that to happen, and we all know that's possible.

Maarten Stekelenburg, Goalkeeper, Netherlands and Roma

If you didn't know the name Maarten Stekelenburg two years ago, you certainly know it now.

The 29-year-old, then 27, was a major reason why the Netherlands played in the 2010 World Cup Final. Stekelenburg was phenomenal throughout the tournament, and it took a ridiculous goal with four minutes left in extra time of the Final to keep him and his countrymen from glory.

However, the Netherlands are back and causing a lot of talk.

This is a talented squad with a lot of power in attack and a solid back line. Stekelenburg is one of the most talented keepers in the world, and it is nowhere near a stretch to say that the Oranje could break their 24-year drought at the European Championship and return home with the trophy.

If they are to do so, Stekelenburg will need to be at his best. That shouldn't be a problem.

Wesley Sneijder, Midfielder, Netherlands and Inter Milan

Stekelenburg will be thankful that few attacks at the European Championship are as talented as his squad's. Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar are all household names for football fans, as is Wesley Sneijder.

In all honesty, for his club and national team performances in 2010, Sneijder should have been the 2010 World Player of the Year. No matter, the 27-year-old is ready to lead the Netherlands on another surge.

Despite some injuries at Inter Milan this season, when he played there was no denying the Sneijder is one of the world's best attacking midfielders. In 21 matches, he scored four times and had five assists despite not being entirely healthy during the matches.

He's had time to rest, and we are talking about a star in the prime of his career. Sneijder is Team of the Tournament quality and don't be surprised if and when his name shows up as such when all is said and done.

Simon Kjaer, Defender, Denmark and Roma

Kjaer may be considered an underdog and a wild card on this list.

He is currently competing against Andreas Bjelland to start with Daniel Agger in central defense for the Danes. He is one of Denmark's most talented defenders and after a solid season with Roma, the 23-year-old should be the man Morten Olsen chooses.

If he starts, Kjaer will be under a lot of pressure. With Denmark considered the odd man out in the race for a Quarterfinal spot from Group B, with Germany, Netherlands and Portugal expected to be the challengers for those spots, there could be an opportunity to play spoiler, and the Danes have that chance.

Kjaer is young at 23, and this is his first taste of the European Championship. He has to face the likes of Robin Van Persie, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo (to name only a few of Germany, Netherlands and Portugal's stars), all in the span of less than two weeks.

No pressure kid.

If Kjaer can help break up their attacks, he will be on the fast track to a bright future in the national team picture and maybe on his way to some big money from a big European club. That is, if he chooses not to stay with Roma after his loan ends this summer.

Andreas Granqvist, Defender, Sweden and Genoa

Granqvist has played the full 90 in Sweden's warm-ups against Iceland and Serbia, both wins for Sweden. Barring some freak injury, he should be in the starting XI for Sweden when Euro 2012 kicks off.

Granqvist was one of Genoa's best players during the 2011-12 season and he will have some big asks at the tournament, taking on the attacks from England, France and Ukraine. While Ibrahimovic automatically makes any attack a good one, Sweden will need to rely on defense to get to the Quarterfinals. If Granqvist can put in a good showing, it will greatly help Sweden's chances.

Sebastian Giovinco, Forward, Italy and Parma

With injury concerns for Mario Balotelli, pressure may fall into the lap of Sebastian Giovinco, the young star who has turned heads for the past several years with his play.

The former Juventus youth prodigy has scored some sensational and timely goals in his career and he will now likely be asked to do the same in Poland.

He has players to get him the ball. Between Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Cassano, that shouldn't be a problem.

The lack of depth at forward for Italy is their biggest weakness. Villareal star Giuseppe de Rossi was ruled out several weeks ago due to injuries. Now with Balotelli injured, Cassano, Giovinco, Fabio Borini and Antonio Di Natale are all that remain up top for the Azzurri.

This is one of the reasons why Prandelli has to consider a 3-5-2 formation. Cassano and Giovinco both need to step up. If they don't, Italy's trip to the European Championship could be as short as their last trip to the World Cup.

Riccardo Montolivo, Midfielder, Italy and AC Milan

Montolivo comes into the European Championship riding the momentum of one of the biggest moments of his life. About a week after the Serie A season ended, AC Milan, after being forced to give up negotiations for the midfielder last summer, announced that he would be joining the club on a free transfer in July.

Montolivo is a star in Serie A and, at 27, is in the prime of his career. He's ready to break out onto the scene as one of Italy's elite midfielders. He will have opportunities to do so.

As mentioned above, Italy is in a very difficult group that will require star performances from all its players. If Montolivo can have a strong showing, it will increase Italy's chances of reaching glory and it will make him a hero in the eyes of many Milan fans before he even takes to the San Siro pitch.