Italian forward Alberto Gilardinho has urged his teammates to forget about their dismal World Cup campaign so far – and book their place in the last 16 by beating Slovakia.

 

The holders face the prospect of elimination if results don’t go their way in the final round of fixtures in Group F.

Paraguay and New Zealand have managed to hold Italy to 1-1 draws, but Gilardinho, who has yet to find the target in South Africa, insists the desire is still there to progress.

He said: “If we want to progress to the next round, we have to do much more, otherwise, it is right that we go home. The important thing is to look forward not back. The possibility to go through is there just as our will to win.”