Gianfranco Zola believes Cesare Prandelli is the right man to take Italy forward after their shock exit from the World Cup.

Prandelli has been appointed as successor to Marcello Lippi, whose Italy side were eliminated in the group stages in South Africa following a 3-2 defeat against Slovakia.

"I definitely like him," Zola, who won 35 caps for Italy, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme. "He is a young manager with ideas and energy and I think it is the perfect assignment. I think he will bring the fresh air of youth to the team and that is a good thing, something we have to work on."