Italy will shortly leave their training base and head out to Recife ahead of tomorrow’s afternoon clash with Costa Rica.
Italy will shortly leave their training base and head out to Recife ahead of tomorrow’s afternoon clash with Costa Rica.
The Azzurri are expected to land in the coastal city at just after 10am local time, 2pm UK time, where they will then transfer immediately to the Arena Pernambuco for a training session at the stadium that will host tomorrow’s Group D game with Costa Rica.
Cesare Prandelli and one player are then expected to face the media for an evening UK time Press conference, before the team head out to the Golden Tulip hotel in the city for the night.
These will be final preparations before Friday’s 1pm local time, 5pm UK time kick-off. After tomorrow’s game, the squad will then immediately transfer out to Natal, host city for their third group stage match with Uruguay set for next Tuesday.
Speculation is that Leonardo Bonucci could come in for Andrea Barzagli if the more senior Juventus man’s particular training schedule does not present him in the best condition for tomorrow, whilst Gigi Buffon and Mattia De Scilgio continue to be monitored on recovery from injury.
Thiago Motta is expected to take Marco Verratti’s place in midfield, whilst Gabriel Paletta is seen as likely to be dropped, with Giorgio Chiellini to move back to centre-back, Matteo Darmian to take left-back and Ignazio Abate to come in at right-back.