Daniele De Rossi said Italy should have “a healthy fear” going into their clash with Costa Rica, as he’s familiar with Recife.
Both teams have three points on the board at the top of Group D going into Friday’s match at 17.00 UK time (13.00 local).
Daniele De Rossi said Italy should have “a healthy fear” going into their clash with Costa Rica, as he’s familiar with Recife.
Both teams have three points on the board at the top of Group D going into Friday’s match at 17.00 UK time (13.00 local).
“We should fear them a bit. You need a healthy fear against a team that surprised everyone with their victory over Uruguay,” said the Roma midfielder in a Press conference. “Nobody thought they would get such a clear result against a very strong side.
“They’ll be fired up after that win. If they had lost 4-0 then we could’ve underestimated them, but in this case we cannot possibly do that.
“On top of all that, we are playing at 13.00 in conditions that Costa Rica will be more accustomed to than we are. We played in Recife for the Confederations Cup last year and were dying from the heat. Time-outs would be common sense for both teams.”
The Italy camp was furious there were no time-outs for water and ice in the 2-1 win over England.
“It’s a real problem. You don’t need to look hard to find people at FIFA who think more about their interests than the health of the players on the field.
“It’s the same everywhere, as in Italy we tend to play evening matches in January when the temperature is below zero and the pitch frozen solid. We accept it’s hot for everyone in Brazil and have to keep going.”
De Rossi doesn’t have a good history with second World Cup games, as he was famously sent off in the 1-1 draw with USA in 2006.
“I certainly won’t get another red card, as after all these years that remains my only dismissal for the Nazionale.
“I hope, and am convinced, that we can virtually secure qualification by beating Costa Rica. A victory would put a strong stamp on our ticket to the next round.
“After one game, it would be wrong to predict how far Italy can go. By the same logic, Spain will go out immediately, but I think the opposite. Many times those who win the World Cup tend to stutter at the start.
“It’s easy to say Holland impressed me the most, as they crushed one of the best teams in the world. They were remarkable for the result and their unity. I daren’t think what they could achieve with Kevin Strootman in the side too.
“All the teams are up to the task now and are organised, whereas perhaps in the 1990 World Cup we found Costa Rica with semi-professional players, while now they play in Greece and Holland.
“It’s true in this tournament there have been more goals than usual, but it’s not as if they end 8-0. The goals have increased because the teams are stronger, not weaker.”