Former Italy striker Christian Vieri has said that the Azzurri should not focus on the climate in Brazil and worry about their own performance when they play against Uruguay.
The Azzurri will be facing the Celeste in their final Group D game on Tuesday and Vieri said that the way Italy plays is more important than the weather conditions both teams face.
“Italy have not made me go crazy, not even against England,” Vieri told Rai Sport.
“They must show great aggression, everyone has the desire to win. If you don’t run like the opponents, you lose against everybody. With Uruguay it will be difficult.
“The heat? It is there for both teams. What always counts is the performance of the team.
“Balotelli? I judge nobody.”
Vieri won 49 caps and scored 23 goals for Italy from 1997 until 2005 and he played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups for the Azzurri.
Despite playing the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, he did not make the final squad for the actual tournament, which Italy eventually won.
Follow Vito Doria on Twitter: @VitoCDoria
