Prandelli plans reign of optimism

New Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has pledged to turn the the embarrassment of the Azzurri's early World Cup exit into a positive after he was officially unveiled at a press conference on Thursday.

Prandelli takes control of an Italian side smarting from a World Cup title defence that smouldered into obscurity as they finished bottom of a group they were hardly expected to be tested by, however, the 52-year-old refused to blame previous boss Marcello Lippi for the state in which he finds the national team.

"What has happened has happened, I want to transform the negativity into something positive," said Prandelli.

He continued: "I hope to organise a team based on real human values. There are difficulties, but I want to start off right, with determination and the will to do well."

The Azzurri could only manage draws with Paraguay and minnows New Zealand before a 3-2 defeat to Slovakia in their final group game ensured a bitter farewell for manager Lippi, who memorably led them to World Cup success four years earlier.

Former Fiorentina boss Prandelli, who has signed a four-year deal with the Italian football federation (FIGC), will now begin the task of picking up the pieces ahead of his first match in charge against the Ivory Coast in London on August 10.

Prandelli added: "I don't have any recipes at the moment, just the will to start well. I want to salute Marcello Lippi, who is a World Cup-winning coach. He leaves a certain mentality behind, the players are attached to the shirt, and we have to restart from this. It's a programme that involves everyone - players, staff and even the media."

"We want quality players, of course the players will be debatable. We have to give strength and will to plan something interesting.

"This is the highest point in my career. I don't want to think about the difficulties. I start with optimism.

"I want a national team with players of quality. They exist."