Prandelli shrugs off poor performance

New Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli is confident that his side will improve on the lacklustre performance which led to a 1-0 defeat against the Ivory Coast in his first match in charge.

The former Fiorentina boss rang the changes for the friendly at West Ham’s Upton Park as he looked to draw a line under the country’s poor showing at the World Cup under predecessor Marcello Lippi.

Prandelli handed Mario Balotelli the chance to impress on his debut during the match in East London but he, along with fellow debutants Amauri, Salvatore Sirigu and defender Cristian Molinaro endured a frustrating evening against the African side, who won the match courtesy of a header from Kolo Toure just before the hour.

Prandelli put his side’s poor showing down to a lack of fitness with the beginning of the Italian domestic season still over two weeks away and is confident that they will be firing on all cylinders by the time their Euro 2012 qualification begins in Estonia in September.

Prandelli said: “The Ivory Coast played well. Their defence was strong so we weren’t able to get the ball through as we wanted to but I’m not worried.

“The players aren’t in good enough condition yet. The championship hasn’t started yet so I’m sure we will be better when we start qualifying for the Euros because everyone will be fit then.”