Preview: Italy v Rep Of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland have a very poor record against Italy in senior international football. Having faced the Azzurri nine times, Ireland have lost eight times – although the other game was the well remembered 1-0 win at the 1994 World Cup in New York. The sides last met in August 2005 when Marcello Lippi’s Italy won 2-1 against Ireland – then managed by Brian Kerr. Similar to the preview to Saturday’s game, exiled Andy Reid was the last Irish player to score against Italy.
Italy go into the game top of World Cup qualifying group 8 – the weekend’s results putting them two points clear of second placed Ireland. The Boys in Green still hold a seven point advantage on third placed Bulgaria – although the Eastern Europeans have played a game less and have four of their five home games still to play.
Both sides go into the game with a number of injury absentees. Steven Reid is a long term absentee for Ireland as is Gennaro Gattuso for the home side – both suffering serious knee injuries last year.
Of more recent injury news, Ireland will again be without Damien Duff but the management team are still hopeful that Aiden McGeady will shake off his problems to play while Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Shay Given were rested from Monday’s training but should feature without any issues.
While Ireland toiled against Bulgaria on Saturday, Italy eased to a 2-0 win over Montenegro in Podgorica. However, the early injury to Antonio Di Natale took some of the gloss off the win and he is definitely ruled out of Wednesday’s game.
In the build up to the game, Italian boss Lippi has resisted pressure to call up Bari born Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano as a replacement.
Barring any late injury problems or knocks, Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni – himself a former Italian national manager – will likely start with the same team as on Saturday.
Italy v Republic of Ireland – Wednesday, 1st April 2009
kick off: 7:50pm (Irish time) – Stadio San Nicola, Bari
Referee : Wolfgang Stark (Germany)
Live on RTE 2 & RTE Radio 1
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