New Delhi: World champions Italy face a must-win situation on Friday in their second match of Group C, dubbed as Group of Death, against Romania at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich.
After being outplayed by the Netherlands in their first game, Italy will start their second match with at least two major changes.
Coach Roberto Donadoni has admitted shake-ups in the starting line-up as he announced the inclusion of striker Alessandro del Piero who will be captaining the side, and defender Giorgio Chellini in the starting XI.
Italy will be eliminated if they lose to the Romanians who are also looking to get a win to their name.
Criticised for their defensive approach in their first game against France, the Romanians will be looking to capitalise on Italy's need to win.
"Yes but as I have said before, Romania are a very good team. In the opening game with France, they made life very difficult. I have said this from the start, as soon as the draw for the group was made, there is Italy, Holland and France - but watch out for Romania. They are technically very able, and physically well prepared as we have already seen," Donadoni says.
In the other match in Group C later, the Netherlands will be aiming to secure a place in the quarter-finals when they take on France in Stade de Suisse at Berne.
After their magnificent start, the Dutch now turn their attention to the face-off versus the Les Bleus.
And a win will take them through to the quarter-finals.
Understandably, the Dutch will also be spoilt for choice with Arjen Robben having recovered from a groin injury that kept him out for the first game.
The French are expectedly bringing in a few changes to the side that played out a dull draw versus Romania in their first group game.
Striker Thierry Henry and midfielder Patrick Viera are both fully fit and are likely to take the field against the Netherlands.
"We have to come back with the feet on the earth and start again. I think that we all know that but it is always difficult - we started as the underdog against Italy and now everybody is knowing that we are quite good," Marco van Basten, the Netherlands coach, says.
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