Italy need only three more victories to claim a sixth major international trophy.

With four World Cup titles and one European crown, Italy rank among Europe's most traditionally powerful sides. After entering Euro 2012 amidst another match-fixing scandal (via Reuters), the Azzurri sweated out a tense qualification from Group B as runners-up.

Now that the group stage is over, there are plenty of reasons to believe Cesare Prandelli's team can go all the way. Here are six.

Versatility Up Top

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli shuffled his starting lineup Monday. Among the changes were a new starter in the strikeforce and a revised midfield setup.

With Prandelli telling reporters previous starter Mario Balotelli was fighting for fitness, the manager opted for Antonio Di Natale as Antonio Cassano's striking partner.

Prandelli also tweaked the midfield behind them. Daniele De Rossi moved forward from the defense and handing the advanced role to Thiago Motta ahead of deep-lying playmaker and midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo.

The changes resulted in either a 4-1-3-2 or 4-3-1-2 formation, depending on how one viewed the midfield. Regardless, the new-look setup produced a victory, even if it didn't produce Italy's best performance of the tournament.

Cassano scored the opener, and Balotelli added the second late in the second half after coming on as a substitute. Di Natale did not score Monday, but he created multiple dangerous moments and had a shot cleared off the line.

After Monday's match, all three have scored at Euro 2012.

Such flexibility in both the attack and midfield, as well as the presence of so many talented options, could make Italy dangerous in the knockout stage—no matter who they face.

Versatility at the Back

Prandelli also tinkered with his defense, and the results were encouraging.

Daniele De Rossi, who had shouldered a decidedly more defensive duty against Spain and Croatia, moved into the midfield with Andrea Pirlo and Thiago Motta.

For his back line, Prandelli brought in Andrea Barzagli, Ignazio Abate and Federico Balzaretti with the recalled Giorgio Chiellini. When Chiellini left the match with an injury, Leonardo Bonucci slotted in.

Admittedly, stopping Ireland's anemic offense wasn't a major accomplishment. But it showed that Italy's capable defensive options are more numerous than the team's available starting berths.

Offense and goals thrill spectators, but a solid defense is a necessary part of any title run.

Italy might just have both covered.

Gianluigi Buffon

At age 34, Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon still ranks among the world's best at his position.

Against Ireland, he wasn't called upon often. He was, however, more than capable of stopping Keith Andrews' wicked free kick in the second half.

You can believe he'll be ready for whatever comes his way in the knockout stage.

Mario Balotelli

It's easy to forget that Mario Balotelli is only 21, and as his tender age would imply, Balotelli is still a largely unproven commodity at the senior international level for Italy.

But on Monday, he scored perhaps the best goal Euro 2012 has seen so far, a brilliant over-the-shoulder volley late in the second half.

It was only the second international goal of Super Mario's brief international career, but it surely won't be the last.

As any English Premier League fan already knows, Balotelli can be as unpredictable as he is volatile.

But as any football fan should know, he's also a supremely talented footballer. At this level, supremely talented footballers often make the difference between victory and defeat.

Andrea Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo is Italy's most important field player, and he's probably also the Azzurri's best.

Even at age 33, Pirlo is a world-class talent whose passing, vision, spacing and occasional goal-scoring influence and win matches at any level.

He proved it this past club season, helping Juventus to the Scudetto in his first season after being unceremoniously dumped by long-time employer AC Milan.

So far at Euro 2012, Italy's goal tally stands at four; Pirlo has either assisted or scored all of them.

When Pirlo plays his best, Italy can be difficult to beat.

History

Remember, this is Italy.

This nation has won four World Cups and one European Championship. Obviously, few of the current players had any part in those past successes, but some were around for the 2006 World Cup triumph.

Besides, success breeds success.

Winning comes naturally to Italy in international competition. Don't be surprised if the Azzurri make another memorable run this summer.

Follow @MikeCummings37