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Attendance: 39,800
England national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 14, 2014 at 11pm UK
 
Italy national football team

1-2

Sturridge (37')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Marchisio (35'), Balotelli (50')

Claudio Marchisio expects "difficult" England test

Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio is expecting a "difficult" challenge when his side take on England in their World Cup opener on Saturday.

Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio has expressed his belief that England will pose a "difficult" test for his side in their World Cup opener on June 14.

The two teams will face each other in the stifling heat of Manaus just two years after the Azzurri ousted the Three Lions via a penalty shootout in the second round of Euro 2012.

Despite Italy not being able to break England down in normal time on that occasion they were the better team on the day, but Marchisio is expecting a different challenge from Roy Hodgson's new-look side on Saturday.

"I think we'll meet a different England to Euro 2012," Marchisio told reporters.

"It will be a very difficult match. The meetings with England are always great clashes. They have changed a lot of players. The players have played very well in their clubs - but we have changed as well."

The Azzurri have gone seven international matches without a win in the build-up to the World Cup, with their only victory since September coming against club side Fluminense on Sunday.

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England manager Roy Hodgson during a press conference on June 1, 2013
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

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Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
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Group H

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