Italy Head Coach Cesare Prandelli is delighted with the support the Azzurri have received since arriving in Brazil.
The four times FIFA World Cup winners beat Brasileirão side Fluminense 5-3 on Sunday and Prandelli believes they way his side approached that game has found favour with the local support.
“It’s a very pleasing thing, we didn’t think it would be like that,” he said, as reported by Football Italia. “In my opinion it was because they saw a team who always try to play.
“It is proven that when a team shows it wants to play football, it goes appreciated everywhere in the world.”
Italy kick off their 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign against England in Manaus on Saturday.