Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has insisted that his team are ready to start off the new season brightly.

Prandelli, who witnessed his side lose to Spain in the Euro 2012 final in June, has urged the Azzurri to show signs of improvement during the international break.

"We're ready to start the new season with a lot of enthusiasm," The Express quotes Prandelli as saying. "I've seen in the eyes of my players they want to get off to a good start.

"We want to continue down the path we forged at the European Championship, now we've gained more credibility. The objective is to keep playing our game but with more finesse in the execution."

Italy will take on England in Switzerland this evening for the first time since they defeated the Three Lions on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Euros.