Italy reveal their darker side in Euro 2016 team photo as boss Antonio Conte admits 'to fight' is his favourite English verb

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They finished runners-up last time out but ahead of Euro 2016, Italy have shown they are still ahead of their rivals in the fashion stakes after the squad posed in suave suits for their pre-tournament photo.

Antonio Conte's men have teamed up with Dolce & Gabbana to travel in style to France this summer but instead of opting for crisp white shirts to compliment their dark features, the squad posed in one block colour at their training camp in Coverciano, Florence.

Italy have been drawn in Group E alongside Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Belgium in what many are calling the Group of Death, and Conte's side may need to call upon dark arts to progress to the knock-out stages.

The Italian players pose for the traditional team photo in the kit they will wear this summer in France

Sharp as always the players swapped into this dark number which they will wear before and after games

Ahead of the European Championship finals, Italy posed in two team photos at their central training ground and technical headquarters with president of the Italian Football Federation Carlo Tavecchio looking more like an undertaker in his shades on the front row.

Conte has certainly taken no passengers with him to the tournament having ditched striker Mario Balotelli ahead of naming his provisional squad, and the 1968 European champions will take no prisoners in their bid to go one better than in Poland and Ukraine four years ago.

Italy face Finland in their final warm-up game at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona on Monday having overcome Scotland 1-0 in Malta earlier this week, but Conte will be after a far more polished performance from his troops before their tournament opener against Belgium.

President of the Italian Football Federation Carlo Tavecchio looked particularly suave in his glasses and suit

Antonio Conte will hope to leave the national side on a high before heading off to manage Chelsea

The outgoing manager has been taking English lessons ahead of his move to Chelsea this summer and the 46-year-old has admitted he has taken inspiration from former Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti during his career. 

'Carlo was my coach for two seasons in Juventus and a great brother for me,' Conte told the BBC. 

'But we are two different coaches and we live the match in two different ways. I want to play with my players. I want my players to feel me very close. I suffer and I win with them.

A general view during the Italy training session at the club's training ground at Coverciano on Wednesday

(Left to right) Matteo Darmian, Daniele De Rossi and Gianluigi Buffon take a break during the session

'He's told me about his difficulties with the English language, the first time. My English is improving because I'm studying.

'Before, I studied a lot, but now I'm focused with the national team because we're preparing for these Euros in the right way, with intensity.'

When asked which are the most important English words he has learned so far, Conte revealed more of his character and his expectations of his players.

'I like the verb, to fight,' he said.