Cesare Prandelli called for calm as he prepared to send Italy into their make-or-break Group C clash with the Republic of Ireland on Monday.
The Italians need to win to have any chance of making it to the quarter-finals and even then, a high-scoring draw between Spain and Croatia in Gdansk would put them out.
Asked what would represent the difference between success and failure, he replied: "It's very difficult to say. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, we are just thinking about tomorrow's game."
He added: "We want to win the game, that's it. Just let us play, let's get on with it, come on. We always want everything before it comes, we want everything now.
"We are always getting ahead of ourselves, us Italians, but I always say that if you get ahead of yourself, you fall over."
Italy go into the game on the back of successive 1-1 draws with Spain and Croatia and knowing anything less than a victory will prove fatal to their hopes of making it out of the group.
Even a win would not be enough if Spain and Croatia repeat the 2-2 scoreline which proved decisive in Portugal eight years ago to leave three teams on five points, when their respective returns against Ireland would be disregarded.
However, Prandelli insists he is thinking of nothing other than finding a way to condemn his former Juventus manager to a third successive Euro 2012 defeat.
He said: "Three days ago, I said it all depends on us and I have to prepare for this game solely focussed on the result in our game. I'm not really concerned about what everyone else is saying, it doesn't bother us.
"We are just focussed on tomorrow's game."
Source: PA
