Italy beats Fluminense 5-3 in World Cup warm-up

Italy's Mario Balotelli (R) gestures with Fluminense's Fabricio during a friendly soccer match ahead of the 2014 World Cup at the Cidadania stadium in Volta Redonda, June 8, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO - Ciro Immobile bagged a hat-trick as Italy warmed up for the World Cup with a 5-3 victory over Brazilian Serie A club Fluminense on Sunday.

Cesare Prandelli's side looked vulnerable early as Fluminense's Chiquinho and Carlinho netted first-half goals in Volta Redonda, 120km northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Italy also struck through Torino's Immobile and Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne as the teams went into halftime on level footing.

But the four-time World Cup winners raised their intensity after the break, with Immobile and Insigne scoring another three goals between them in the space of 11 minutes.

Carvalho added another for Fluminense just after the hour before both sides tightened their defences in the final half hour.

Prandelli opted to rest strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano while Fluminense were without their prolific forward Fred, who is in Brazil's World Cup squad.

Italy will play their first Group D match against England June 14 and then face Costa Rica June 20 and Uruguay four days later.