Italy Coach Prandelli Agrees to 2-Year Extension

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has agreed to a two-year contract extension, keeping him in charge of the team until 2016.

Prandelli said: "I am proud of the fact the Italian federation offered me an extension regardless of the results at the World Cup, and that's why I was completely willing."

Prandelli's contract was set to run until after the World Cup in Brazil, but his new deal will take him through to the European Championship in France.

Prandelli left Fiorentina to take charge of the Azzurri in 2010 and transformed Italy from a side which was eliminated in the first round of the World Cup to European Championship runner-up.

Italy, which easily qualified for the tournament in Brazil, will play England, Costa Rica and Uruguay at the World Cup.