Trio of stars will hope for successful season ahead.
With the qualification campaign for the World Cup now over, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be looking ahead to the remainder of the Serie A season in order to monitor his key players.
The disappointing 2-2 draw with Armenia in Naples on Tuesday night will have dealt a blow to the Azzurri, as they required victory in order to be a top seed in the draw which takes place in December.
Nevertheless, having reached the final of Euro 2012 and finished unbeaten in their qualifying group, the four-time World Cup winners can be considered as outsiders for the trophy.
While many will understandably believe that much will depend on the form and fitness of Mario Balotelli, there are a group of youngsters who will be looking to make a significant impact in what will be their first big international tournament.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne has made the headlines for his club already this season, and is beginning to show the form he displayed during a loan spell with Pescara which initially caught the eye.
The 22-year-old is already considered a hero in his hometown of Naples, but with the faith and room to grow under Rafa Benitez he will hope for a strong club season that will confirm his place in the squad for Brazil.
In addition, his recent performances for the Azzurri will have done him no harm, while fellow rising star Alessandro Florenzi will hope for a similar upward trajectory over the next eight months.
Having established himself under Rudi Garcia at Roma, the Italian youngster is often deployed on the right wing of a three-man attack.
With Prandelli opting for a similar set-up on Tuesday, Florenzi scored his first goal for the senior squad, incidentally Insigne provided the assist, and was immediately being tipped to be picked ahead of the likes Antonio Candreva and Emanuele Giaccherini.
Similarly to Insigne, the 22-year-old will need to maintain his current club form and find that much-needed consistency. If he does, then he will be a vital part of the squad next summer.
In contrast, the 2014 World Cup may be a tournament too soon for Marco Verratti, who will likely remain as a back-up option to Andrea Pirlo until the midfield metronome calls time on his international career.
The 20-year-old plays a significant role for the French champions, operating in the regista role where his tenacity and more importantly his passing ability can flourish.
Nevertheless, the Paris Saint-Germain starlet is still regarded as the heir to Pirlo’s throne and whatever experience he can take from Brazil will be vital for his progression moving forward.
Along with Giuseppe Rossi’s return to health, Italy can prove that they are not Balotelli-dependent. With a string of young stars ready to step up, it remains to be seen if they can continue to impress the Azzurri boss this season.
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