Rome, June 15 - Coach Cesare Prandelli said Sunday that Italy are "on the right road" after beating England 2-1 in their opening Group D match at the World Cup, while stressing he is extremely wary of their next opponents - Costa Rica.

    Italy deservedly prevailed with goals by Claudio Marchisio and Mario Balotelli in a display that has raised hopes here that the Azzurri are in with a chance of becoming world champions for a fifth time.

    Italy controlled the midfield, thanks to in small measure to a trademark display by playmaker Andrea Pirlo, and enjoyed penetration down the flanks, with Antonio Candreva causing all sorts of trouble for England left back Leighton Baines. This despite the loss of goalkeeper-captain Gianluigi Buffon and left back Mattia De Sciglio for Saturday's match because of injuries.

    "We're on the right road," Prandelli told reporters on his way back from Manaus to Italy's base at Mangaratiba ahead of Friday's clash in Recife with Costa Rica, who stunned Uruguay 3-1 Saturday.

    "There aren't many teams that have the quality in midfield that distinguishes us. And we have to work on this". Prandelli praised his men for an "epic" win and said the fact his side were better able to cope with the intense heat and humidity in Manaus - a city in the middle of the Amazon rainforest - was down to his preparatory fitness work. "It was an epic match. We'll remember it for a long time," Prandelli said.

    "England are one of the best national teams at this tournament with really good attacking players. I'm particularly happy we beat them.

    "We played well. It was a hard-fought victory but we maintained supremacy in midfield. "We worked well at our pre-tournament training camp and you could see the results.

    "They had cramps in the second-half (and we didn't), which means our work paid off".

    Prandelli said he was pleased with the display of Mario Balotelli, who scored the winning goal, but added that he has told the AC Milan striker he can do "much more".

    The Azzurri coach described as "absurd" FIFA's decision not to allow timeouts so players could take on water during the match. "They want entertainment, but two teams must be at full strength to be able to offer it," he said. Victory against Costa Rica, seen as the group's weakest team at the start of the tournament, may enable Italy to qualify for the next round with a game to spare.

    But Prandelli stressed there is no danger of him underestimating them. "I said before that Costa Rica are a real team, not now that they have beaten Uruguay," Prandelli said. "Only those who don't know football can think there are weak teams at a World Cup.

    "Costa Rica know how to take the field and we'll have to be at our best, otherwise we'll undo the good work we've done".

    Marchisio warned that Italy must not get too far ahead of themselves.

    "This team showed great character," said the Juventus midfielder. "We held on in the closing stages and took home a deserved victory.

    "I don't know how far we can go. The road is still long.

    The important thing was to make a good start. Now we have to think about Costa Rica".