ROME: Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has ended speculation about his future by committing himself to the Azzurri for a further two years beyond the imminent World Cup in Brazil.

Prandelli, who is yet to trim his provisional 30-man squad to 23 for Brazil, said: “It’s official, I have signed until the end of UEFA Euro 2016. In September we will start talking about plans and projects for the future.

“I had already agreed to continue with my work a couple of months ago, we just used this time to finalise the details.”

Italy face the Republic of Ireland and Luxemburg on 31 May and 4 June respectively, before heading to Brazil. They also play a friendly against Fluminense before kicking off against England in Manaus.

Costa Rica and Uruguay complete Group D.

Prandelli, former Juventus midfielder, began coachng in the youth system at Atalanta and then had spells at Lecce, Hellas Verona and Venezia before moving up to Parma and Fiorentina.

He succeeded Marcello Lippi as Italy coach in 2010 and took the Azzurri to the final of Euuro 2012, where they lost 4-0 to Spain.

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