The pressure is on Italy to perform in their World Cup qualifier away to Armenia, coach Cesare Prandelli suggested Thursday on the eve of the Group B tie in Yerevan.
“I am waiting to see an Italy side alive to the fact that the stakes are high,” said Prandelli. “We have to play at a high rhythm against Armenia in order to exploit our qualities.”
The Italians have four points from two matches after being held to a 2-2 stalemate by Bulgaria in Sofia in their opening qualifier before a laboured 2-0 win over minnows Malta.
After Armenia, the EURO 2012 beaten finalists return to Milan next Tuesday to face a Denmark team that drew 0-0 against the Czech Republic.
“I’m sure we won’t make the same mistakes as we did in September, but against Armenia we have to have commitment, because it will be a hard, physical encounter,” Prandelli said earlier this week.
