Giovanni van Bronkhorst will draw inspiration from Holland's thumping win over Italy at Euro 2008 when they meet again in a friendly.

This Saturday's match in Pescara will be the first meeting between the teams since Holland thrashed the world champions 3-0 to start their campaign in Austria and Switzerland in impressive style two summers ago.

Van Bronkhorst scored the third goal in that rout - a match he marks as one of the highest points of his international career.

"When I think back to the European Championship, I do not think of the elimination against Russia, but that game against Italy," the 34-year-old told the Dutch football association's official website www.onsoranje.nl.

"The atmosphere was so good in the team.

"Sometimes you get a feel for the game quickly, and then you know that you're sharp.

"Two moments are still vivid in my memory. I took the ball from the goal line and then passed for Dirk (Kuyt) to score. Then I made myself a goal near the end - it is very rare for me to score as an international."

While Van Bronkhorst retains happy memories of that match in Bern, the Feyenoord defender knows the Oranje will be hard pressed to replicate that sort of result this weekend.

The Azzurri have been much changed since Marcelo Lippi took over from Roberto Donadoni following their early exit from Euro 2008.

And while they will be weakened by injury for this weekend's match - Alessandro Gamberini, Gennaro Gattuso, Claudio Marchisio, Gaetano D'Agostino, Daniele De Rossi, Pepe and Vincenzo Iaquinta are all sidelined - Van Bronkhorst is expecting a tough match.

"This next game against Italy will be far different," Van Bronkhorst said.

"We are playing a friendly against them, but they are still Italians.

"I've viewed their squad and I see they have a completely different team than the European Championships.

"Italy has many injured players, but I know that they are always good."