The Italians lost to Costa Rica, 1-0, last Friday. However the four-time World Cup champions only needed a tie against Uruguay to advance to the knockout round of the tournament.
Heavyweights England and Uruguay must resurrect their World Cup hopes or face the prospect of an early flight home when they collide in a Group D fixture on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez said he won't rush Luis Suárez back from a knee injury for his side's World Cup opener against Costa Rica in Fortaleza on Saturday
It's a relatively minor procedure, but with the surgery so close to the start of the World Cup it'll come down to the wire whether Suarez is ready for the team's opener -- which is against Costa Rica on June 14.
Italy go to the World Cup finals looking to equal the record of hosts Brazil and lift the trophy for a fifth time.
With the first Group D game against England and tricky encounters with Uruguay and Costa Rica to follow, Coach Cesare Prandelli still has tough decisions to make.
Having landed themselves a nightmare group at the World Cup, Costa Rica hopes a blend of tactical stability and technical effervescence will enable them to pull off a shock in Brazil.
