"Good evening and welcome to the Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, where Italy return home for what already feels like one of the defining matches of their qualifying campaign."
In the upper rows of the stands, the broadcast cameras swept across a San Siro glowing beneath the floodlights, with blue filling almost every visible section of the stadium as scarves lifted into the night air.
"Tonight it's Italy against Ukraine, the second and final fixture of this international break, and neither side can really afford to leave here empty-handed."
"It really is beginning to tighten up," the co-commentator replied.
"England have almost disappeared over the horizon with thirteen points already. Behind them, though, it's a fight."
For those watching from the comfort of their couches, a graphic appeared on screen showing the top of the table for Group C of the European qualifiers.
England - 13
Ukraine - 4
Italy - 4
