Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has moved to assure Azzurri fans that speculation surrounding his future will not affect their World Cup campaign.
Prandelli has been widely tipped to stand down as Italy coach after next summer's finals in Brazil, with an announcement expected once qualification has been secured.
The 56-year-old has insisted that rumours will not damage his work with the Azzurri, ahead of tonight's crunch qualifier against the Czech Republic.
He told reporters: "My future? I can assure you that this issue will not become a soap opera.
"We just want to equal what Marcelo Lippi did with the national team, even if that target is far away at this moment."
Roberto Mancini, Massimiliano Allegri and Alberto Zaccherini are among the names linked with Prandelli's job.
