Chievo vs Torino preview - Immobile aiming for Brazil

Posted Saturday, May 03, 2014 by PA

Torino striker Ciro Immobile has plenty of incentives to finish the season strongly, starting with Sunday's game at Chievo.

The 24-year-old forward is firmly in contention for a spot in Italy's World Cup squad and can underline his terrific campaign with more goals.

Immobile, who is Serie A's top scorer with 21 goals so far, can also help Torino earn a place in the Europa League.

The Turin outfit travel to Verona in sixth position but level on 52 points with fellow European hopefuls Lazio and Hellas Verona.

"I always try to give something more," Immobile said. "I am trying to show what I can do.

"I hope I can have a strong finish to the season.

"If (Italy coach) Cesare Prandelli chooses me to go to the World Cup, I will be ready.

"Right now my focus is on helping Torino achieve something it has not managed for 28 years (play in European competition) and then I hope to go to the World Cup, something I've dreamed of and hoped for."

Toro are showing no signs of slowing down and last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Udinese was their fourth win in their last five league games.

The Granata, coached by Giampiero Ventura, have lost just one of their last seven encounters.

"We deserve to be where we are at," Immobile said. "We have three very important games left and we must remain focused."

Rivals Chievo head into the match having to do without midfielder Perparim Hetemaj as well as defenders Bostjan Cesar and Nicholas Frey.

All three players were booked during last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Sampdoria and must all serve a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Despite those setbacks, Chievo coach Eugenio Corini is hopeful his side will not get sucked into the bottom three.

The Flying Donkeys are 16th in the standings, just two points clear of the drop zone.

"We will go out on the pitch determined to take all three points," Corini said. "We will be without three key players but I see my team with the right mentality to achieve our aim of avoiding the drop."