On the face of it a domestic match-fixing scandal would be the last thing Italy wanted ahead of today’s Euro 2012 Group C qualifier against Estonia in Modena.

However, if history is anything to go by, it may just be the tonic the Azzurri need to focus on the job at hand.

Five years ago the infamous Calciopoli scandal broke ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Italian football seemed to be in disarray and yet Francesco Totti, Fabio Cannavaro et al knuckled down, refocused and went on to defy the odds and lift the trophy with a penalty shoot-out victory over France in the final.

A similar scandal had broken ahead of their previous World Cup success in 1982. Paolo Rossi was banned for three years in 1980 for his part in a betting scandal known as Totonero (black pools).

His ban, however, was reduced to two years, allowing him to return just before the World Cup and he went on to fire Italy to the title.

So it is feasible that the Calcio-scommesse (football betting) scandal will be ridden as well as its ugly predecessors.

“There was a little bit of shock when this news came out but our priority has to be Estonia,” said centre-back Giorgio Chiellini.

“The (bigger) risk is not reconnecting the gas after the end of the league season.”

Scandals apart, Italy appear in rude health, particularly with Andrea Pirlo back in the squad after an injury-interrupted six months.

Only Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli of the regular first team starters is missing, a knee injury picked up in training believed to be serious enough to rule him out.