Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo says he's finding an understanding with Roma's Daniele de Rossi in Italy's engineroom.

Montolivo has taken over from the injured Andrea Pirlo and impressed in the 1-1 draw with Paraguay.

"We haven't played many games together, so the strong rapport with De Rossi is a pleasant surprise for us too," he said.

"The two of us are really in sync when it comes to tactics, as we can change positions on the field and understand each other with just a look.

"We cover when the other goes forward and pass the ball around well. The credit also goes to Claudio Marchisio, who gave us balance and coverage, as his position allowed us to play well."