Intro:

The Italian World Cup squad landed in Rio on Friday ahead of the tournament. Cesare Prandelli's side are without a win in seven matches.

Script:

Italy have arrived in Brazil for the World Cup finals. It's easy to forget that Cesare Prandelli has a number of players in his squad who won the World Cup in 2006.

One of those is Daniele de Rossi, another Rossi missed out though, striker Giuseppe has just recoevered from injury but is too much of a risk according to Prandelli.

Marcelo Lippi was coach in 2006 and says the group collective was the stongpoint of his squad, every one of his forwards shared the burden but going forward this side is built around one man, the controversial, often brilliant Mario Balotelli.

Neither he or his teammates have been very good at all for the Azurri recently, they are without a win in seven matches and their last game ended in a draw with Luxembourg.

That will please their first Group D opponents England, the mouthwatering repeat of the Euro 2012 quarter-final will be played in Manaus next Saturday.