Italy coach Cesare Prandelli insists tonight's World Cup opener with England won't be decisive.
The Azzurri are notorious slow starters.
"The history of the World Cup tells us that the first matches are never decisive, like at USA '94 or South Africa 2010 when Spain won it having lost at the start to Switzerland," Prandelli explained.
"It's true however that they are important in that they give you great strength if you get a positive result.
"Our feelings are great, we have worked in a way that means we will be ready physically and mentally."
