Italy's World Cup squad on Thursday flew from their base at Mangaratiba and headed to Recife, where they will face Costa Rica in their second Group D game Friday.

The Azzurri are upbeat after their impressive 2-1 win over England on Saturday.

Victory over Costa Rica in Recife will secure Italy's passage for the next round with one game to spare if Uruguay fail to beat England on Thursday.

If Uruguay, who lost 3-1 to Costa Rica on their opener, do beat England, Cesare Prandelli's men would need a draw in their final game - against Uruguay in Natal next Tuesday - to be certain of progressing, even if they win on Friday.

The tournament in Brazil, meanwhile, is absorbing the shock of world champions Spain's early exit after they lost 2-0 to Chile on Wednesday, giving them no chance of progressing following their 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their opener.

After arriving in Recife, the Azzurri will hold a training session at the city's Arena Pernambuco stadium. There is optimism that captain-goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be back for the Costa Rica game.

Buffon, 36, has returned to training after missing the England match with an ankle sprain.

Even if he doesn't return, the Azzurri should be in good hands anyway with Salvatore Sirigu, who played well in goal against England.

Prandelli is expected to make some changes in defence, the one department that had some wobbly moments against the English.

Andrea Barzaglia is a doubt with an inflamed tendon and fellow centre back Gabriel Paletta may be dropped. Prandelli is tipped to bring Leonardo Bonucci into the centre of the back line, shift Giorgio Chiellini across from left back into the middle, use Ignazio Abate at right back and move Matteo Darmian from the right flank to the left. Left back Mattia De Sciglio, who missed the England match with a thigh-muscle problem, looks likely to stay on the sidelines.

The boss is also thought to be considering resting midfielder Marco Verratti, who missed several days of training last week with flu, and selecting Thiago Motta in his place.