GEEL, Belgium, June 12 (Reuters) - Paolo Maldini, mindful of Italy's first round exit at Euro 96, says he wants a full three points from Wednesday's European Championship Group B match against Belgium.

Italy would be well placed to reach the quarter-finals even if they drew the match in Brussels. They beat Turkey in their opening match and face Sweden in their final tie.

But Maldini recalls the championship in England four years ago when his side slithered out despite taking four points from their three matches - as many as group rivals and eventual finalists the Czech Republic.

The Italians were knocked out because they had lost their head-to-head with the Czechs 2-1.

'Naturally it would be best to win because with a draw we're not sure of going through,' Maldini said on Monday. 'We had a bad experience in 1996 when we went home with four points.'

The AC Milan leftback said he had been impressed by Belgium's physical approach in their 2-1 defeat of Sweden. 'But we are Italy and I think we're better than them (Belgium),' he added.

Italy midfielder Stefano Fiore said the co-hosts' strength lay in the group spirit coach Robert Waseige has cultivated in less than a year at the helm.

'Belgium don't frighten me as individuals. Their strength is in their unity,' he said.

Fiore is likely to retain the role as Italy's attacking midfielder behind strikers Filippo Inzaghi of Juventus and AS Roma's Francesco Totti. The Udinese midfielder struggled in Italy's defeat in Norway on the eve of the championship and complained that he and Totti were forever 'stepping on each others toes'.

But the combination worked well against the Turks. 'Against Norway it was the first time Totti and I had played together and it's normal that there were a few little problems,' Fiore said. 'They've been resolved over time as we've got to know each other better.'

Totti said the only disappointment of Sunday's match in Arnhem was his header wich clattered off the underside of the crossbar in the second half.

'That was the only bitter thing yesterday,' he said.