Fiore: Unsung hero who can just about do it all (GaryMPrior/Allsport)

By the end of the friendly international in the Stadio delle Alpi, however, his name should be on the lips of every England fan.

And, if Italian coaching guru Nevio Scala is any judge, they may well be cursing the relative unknown from unfashionable Udinese for having put their inexperienced team to the sword.

When Scala was Parma boss, Fiore was the youngster who just happened to fill in wherever he was needed.

Most often seen as a holding midfielder, he was also regularly stuck out on the left or right flank, and has even done time as a wing-back.

He wasn't one to complain, especially not when he was winning the UEFA Cup at just 19 years of age.

Since his move to unglamorous Udinese as a makeweight in the deal which took Marcio Amoroso to Parma, however, Fiore has blossomed into one of the most dangerous playmakers in Italian football.

Tonight, he will play just behind an intimidating front pairing of Marco Delvecchio and Filippo Inzaghi, a formation which represents something of a radical departure for the Italians, who wouldn't normally countenance sacrificing a hard-tackling midfielder for, in effect, a third forward.

Fortunately for Giovanni Trapattoni, and unfortunately for Peter Taylor, Fiore is a special case - a player who can do two jobs at once.

'Stefano can do everything - he is a universal player,' said Scala.

'He is one of the best playmakers in Italy, maybe Europe. He can score goals, create goals and make good defensive plays. I wouldn't play him as a defender but, really, he could play every other position in midfield or up front.

'I think, against England, he will be a very important player.

'Every team needs someone like him, someone who can create.

'In the past two years, particularly after his move to Udinese, he has moved up to a different level.

'When he was at Parma, we used to play him in attack, in defence, everywhere because he was such an interesting and flexible player.

'He did very well and, of course, had the great experience of winning in Europe.'

Although many in Italy feel that Fiore's undoubted attacking talent was almost wasted by his constricted role at Parma, another school of thought argues that the great discipline he learned there has made the boy from Calabria - the very toe of Italy's boot - an even greater asset.

His workrate means Trapattoni can play him in the advanced role without fear that Italy will be outnumbered in midfield when England have possession.

As for any weaknesses in the Fiore armoury, Scala offers only minor consolation to Taylor.

'Stefano is not so quick, that is sure,' said the Besiktas coach. 'But he doesn't have to be, because he is so intelligent.

'He uses his intelligence in games, he shows his character also, and his technique is always very good.

'I think one problem might be that he is not so experienced at international level.

'But I think, because he has played in Europe, he can play in the national team without a problem.'

If Fiore may need to be introduced to a few of his opponents, the mercurial Inzaghi's reputation will go before him.

Mere mention of the Juventus striker's name is likely to divide any Turin bar into two camps, half singing his praises and the other decrying him as a waste of space.

His technique isn't always the best, at times he can look ungainly and he has missed enough chances to fill an entire edition of Auntie's Sporting Bloomers.

Yet he has just equalled the Juventus record for European goals, scoring 27 times in 32 games.