Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has warned Spain not to take scandal-hit Italy lightly.

They face-off in their Euros opener tonight.

"Scandals and injuries are just reasons for us to be even more concerned about facing Italy," Xabi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"All this chaos makes us even more alert, because we know what the Azzurri are like. We saw you in 2006 with a big scandal, Juventus sent to Serie B and Italy winning the World Cup.

"Italy are combative and competitive when dealing with difficulties. The problems they are going through do not remotely relax us."