The Azzurri will compete with Egypt, Brazil and the US in Group B of the elite competition which starts next week.

"The most important match is the first one [against USA]; we need to make sure that we beat our first opponents," Lippi said in an interview with FIFA.com.

"If the first game goes well, then logically the others will follow suit. If it goes badly, it will be more difficult for us to regain our momentum.

"But I don't want to sit here and talk about our opponents, I want to talk about my own team and what we aim for."

No pressure

Lippi, who guided Italy to the 2006 World Cup title, believes that being world champions shouldn’t add pressure on his side.

"No, no, there is no pressure. We have a group who train and play well together and there is no pressure on us," the former Juventus boss added.

"Football is about being prepared mentally, you have to understand the psychological aspect of the game."

Italy will face Egypt on June 18th in the Pharaohs first competitive match against a European side since the 1-0 defeat to England in the 1990 World Cup.