We need to improve: Prandelli

 Italy coach Cesare Prandelli thought the 1-1 draw with Spain in their Euro 2012 Group C opener on Sunday was a fair result but rued letting the holders, who started without a striker, get back into the game so quickly.

Substitute Antonio Di Natale put the Azzurri ahead on the hour mark moments after coming on but Cesc Fabregas soon hit back for Spain, who introduced Fernando Torres late on and could have snatched the win if the striker had been sharper.

“The draw was fair. We need to improve,” Prandelli told a news conference.

“We really tried to press the Spaniards from the start of their attacks. We tried to avoid one on ones and for 60-70 minutes I think we played very well at the back.

“What disappoints me was that we allowed them to equalise very quickly. We should have made them work harder to get back into the game. The problem we had with Torres is that we gave him the ball twice. We caused problems for ourselves.”

Prandelli, who raised eyebrows himself by handing a debut to Emanuele Giaccherini at left wing back in a new 3-5-2 formation, had expected Torres to start.

“We were a little surprised that there was no stirker but we decided to play as we had planned,” added the coach, whose side had lost their last three friendlies.