Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has attempted to reduce the pressure on striker Mario Balotelli in the wake of his stunning goal against Poland that saw him break his international duck.
"You can never rest on your laurels, even after 100 matches," Prandelli said on the eve of Italy's friendly clash with Copa America winners Uruguay here in Rome.
"Things could be easier for Balotelli on Tuesday because he has already now shown what he is capable of, but he must try not to complicate things for himself by being too selfish."
Not for the first time Prandelli decided to reveal his starting line-up to the press at the Azzurri's base in the outskirts of the Italian capital.
The 21-year-old Balotelli will start up front in Italy's traditional 4-3-1-2 formation alongside Roma's Argentine-born Pablo Daniel Osvaldo.
"I want Mario and Osvaldo to make sure they are the first ones to drop back when they lose the ball," Prandelli added.
"In the modern game, you have to press the opposition as soon as they try to attack you."
Further back, Prandelli will again start with a midfield trio of Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, with Riccardo Montolivo operating behind the strikers.
Prandelli said he wants to work on improving after his team, minus the sick Antonio Cassano and injured Giuseppe Rossi, struggled in the early stages of the 2-0 win against the Euro 2012 co-hosts in Poland.
"I want to establish whether we struggled in the first 25 minutes because we were playing with two new strikers (Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini), rather than Cassano and Rossi, who come back a lot to help out their teammates, or whether the problems were structural.
"Any changes I make will be to do with the system rather than the personnel."
The former Fiorentina coach also added that he is looking forward to seeing his side test themselves against one of the best sides in the world just now.
"This will be the biggest test for us since I became coach," he insisted.
"They are one of the best teams in the world. They won the Copa America a few months ago and their players have great technique and lots of personality."
Source: AFP
