Natal: Italy look to reach the World Cup last 16 with victory over giant-killers Costa Rica today but the four-time champions are wary of Recife's tropical conditions.


Italy will bank on striker Mario Balotelli to deliver the goods today. Pic/AFP 

Tough-tackling Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi has underlined Costa Rica's likely advantage in the sweltering conditions in Recife, where he said Italy were "dying from the heat" last year during the Confederations Cup.