Serbia and Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic is looking ahead in anticipation to the day when his national team lock horns with Italy in the qualifying phase for Euro 2012.

The Azzurri have been drawn with Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia and Faroe Islands in Group C and the Nerazzurri midfielder believes that qualification is a real possibility for his side.

“Despite being world champions, the Italians respect us,” Stankovic said in an interview with Blic.

“It would be too much to say they are afraid of us, but we respect each other. Against them we will need a lot of determination and attention, as they can do well even when they have billions of problems. They will be two good battles.”

Concerning the hopes of achieving a qualification into the tournament that will take place in Poland and Ukraine, the 31-year-old added: “The chances of qualifying for Euro 2012 are very real for us.”