Prandelli looks for positives

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

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.

Former Fiorentina boss Prandelli, who has signed a four-year deal, will now begin the task of picking up the pieces ahead of his first match in charge against Ivory Coast in London on August 10. He refused to blame Marcello Lippi for the state in which he finds the national team, and instead believes the veteran coach has left him with a solid base on which to build.

“What has happened has happened, I want to transform the negativity into something positive,” he said. “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.

“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. I am thinking about the first call-ups for the game. It would be nice to see good games, as well as the possibility to improve as we go on. I wanted to avoid naming names because it’s not fair. Those who will get called are those who deserve to be here.

“It will also be based on respect and roles. I hope to take quality players with me.”