England coach Gary Neville claims the country has nothing to fear from Italy ahead of next summer’s World Cup opener in Manaus.

Neville claimed he was excited by the prospect of facing Cesare Prandelli’s side in the Group D clash in Brazil next June.

England will also play Uruguay in Sao Paulo before they play Costa Rica in their final group game in Belo Horizonte.

We can beat them: Gary Neville has said that England should not be fazed by playing Italy

Italy boast the world’s best keeper Gianluigi Buffon and will hope Andrea Pirlo, who has ankle ligament damage, will be back in time for the finals.

Neville, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, said: ‘The English players will rise to it, I love those games. We are stuck with what we have got in Group D.

‘I saw Group B with Spain and Chile and thought, ''that’s not a good one''.

‘Italy and Uruguay will be tough games but for me I’m not sure England are at their best against sort of weaker teams.

‘When the expectation is with us, when you thought the group was easy at the World Cup - it when we are not expected to do well.

World Cup draw: England were picked alongside Uruguay, Costa Rica and Italy in the Group D

‘We have nothing to worry about with Italy. It would have been better if it had been later in the day. From my point of view, from a football view, it would have been better later in the day but it will be the same for them.’

Prandelli is retiring as coach of Italy after the World Cup and his players would love to give him the perfect send off next summer.

They beat England in a penalty shootout at Euro 2012, but England beat them in a friendly last year.
Neville added: ‘We have beaten Italy 2-1 last year and we drew 0-0 with them in the Euros even through they dominated the game.

Decisive: Andrea Pirlo scoring a penalty as Italy beat England at Euro 2012

‘The Uruguay game is a fantastic match, with Suarez playing, the excitement and the English players will rise to it and love those games.

‘In Euro 2000 we beat Germany and lost to Romania, then in Euro 96 we drew with Switzlerland, beat Scotland and then hammered Holland. ‘In the 2002 World Cup we beat Argentina. There is some decent evidence over the past 20 years that we can beat better opposition.’

First World Cup game: England will be looking to avenge that defeat in Manaus