FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has explained his ‘satisfaction’ at Italy’s win over England, but warned that there is still work to do.
The Azzurri began their Group D campaign on Saturday evening with a 2-1 win over Roy Hodgson’s side in Manaus and sit second in the table behind Costa Rica ahead of playing them in Recife on Friday.
FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has explained his ‘satisfaction’ at Italy’s win over England, but warned that there is still work to do.
The Azzurri began their Group D campaign on Saturday evening with a 2-1 win over Roy Hodgson’s side in Manaus and sit second in the table behind Costa Rica ahead of playing them in Recife on Friday.
“We are pleased to have beaten England,” Abete has explained this week on Sky Sport Italia.
“We faced an England that I though was stronger than in the past and at Euro 2012, we have beaten a side that historically are a rival and this satisfaction is double.
“The performance was good and encouraging, but we have only played one game and we have to keep our feet on the ground.
“The evidence for our team has been encouraging and we are pleased that the crowd cheered for us.
“We picked up three important points, but everything is more complicated after Costa Rica’s victory over Uruguay.
“This is a difficult group and it is open to any possibility, as shown by that result.”
Italy are currently assessing the continued recovery from injury of both Mattia De Sciglio and Gianluigi Buffon.
“These are things you have to take into account, but fortunately it seems that with regards to Buffon and De Sciglio, it seems they will only be for short periods.
“And then, we are a good team, no-one wins alone.
“Balotelli was Man of the Match against England? He seems to me determined and focused.”