Prandelli: Italy squad to be ´renovated´

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has revealed his intention to renovate his squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

Prandelli’s men impressively reached the final of Euro 2012 before losing emphatically to Spain 4-0.

Italy, having drawn in Bulgaria and won against Malta, will play further World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Denmark in October as they continue to work towards Brazil in 2014.

Prandelli said changes were needed in the Italy side, just as Spain improved after winning the 2010 World Cup.

“We have to work out how to combine good football with results, therefore achieving qualification without going back on our need to renovate the squad,” Prandelli told reporters in Florence.

“After all, that is what Spain did after winning the World Cup. They changed 50 percent of the side to target Euro 2012.

“It is only natural to run into some initial difficulties, but our objective has to be taking this Nazionale past that hurdle and into World Cup 2014.

“It is not easy, but we must do it, because the Italy squad has to be at least partially renovated.

“There will not be any new faces in the next call-ups because recently we have already brought in quite a few.”

Prandelli, who watched Juventus hammer Roma 4-1 in Turin on Saturday, also gave his thoughts on Juve and former club Fiorentina’s start to the Serie A campaign.

“Juventus are putting the same values as last season on to the field with consistency, so we shouldn’t be surprised,” he said.

“Fiorentina? I won’t say anything out of superstition, seeing as things are going so well for my old club, so I’ll just wish (coach) Vincenzo Montella good luck.”