Soccer: Italy have 'fuel to go all the way' at World Cup

Coach says team now working on speed

(ANSA) - Rio de Janeiro, June 9 - Coach Cesare Prandelli said Monday that Italy's preparatory fitness work means that his team have "the fuel to go all the way" at the World Cup in Brazil.

"Now we'll do speed work and you'll see (the results)," Prandelli told a press conference, a day after his side beat Fluminense 5-3 in their last warm-up match. The star of that encounter was striker Ciro Immobile, who netted a hat-trick. That display led to speculation Immobile, who has moved from Torino to Borussia Dortmund after being Serie A's top scorer last season with 22 goals, could get a starting place up front alongside Mario Balotelli in Italy's opening match against England on Saturday.

Without ruling out that possibility, Prandelli suggested he was unlikely to use two centre-forwards like Immobile and Balotelli together as he needs at least one striker who is able run back and help with defending. "Everything is possible, but with a midfield like ours, I think that it would be complicated from a tactical point of view," the coach said. He added that it would "harakiri" if any of the players who are left on the bench took umbrage and upset team harmony in Brazil. "Everyone knows their role and everyone knows that at the World Cup you can be a star even just for five minutes," Prandelli said.