Italy vs Republic of Ireland. European Championships Group E.
Stade Pierre-MauroyAttendance44,268.
Thursday 23 June 2016 07:38, UK
The Republic of Ireland face Italy in their final Group E match at Euro 2016, knowing that anything other than a win will result in their elimination.
Martin O'Neill's side were convincingly beaten 3-0 by Belgium in their previous game in Bordeaux on Saturday - having drawn 1-1 with Sweden in their opening match - meaning they sit bottom of the group with just a single point.
Italy will have one eye on the last 16 after sealing their qualification with two wins from their two games, and Ireland will hope that complacency becomes an issue for Antonio Conte's men.
The Irish have failed to beat the Azzurri in over two decades, but if there is to be a repeat of the famous 1-0 win at the 1994 World Cup, O'Neill will have to set his side out to be far more adventurous than they were against the Belgians.
Ireland failed to register a shot on target in the heavy defeat to Marc Wilmots' side, with Shane Long operating as a lone striker at the Stade de Bordeaux, and O'Neill is under no illusions of the task facing them.
"The players know what they have to do and they're ready for it," he said on Tuesday.
"It's a case of being very strong to begin with and we have to play the game with a lot of energy and be mindful of how decent the Italians are but also be mindful of what we can do.
"We have to be as energetic as we can possibly be and we'll obviously consider things during the course of the evening. We've done a little bit of training with those who have not participated in the games, and if called upon they'll be ready."
Italy, who have won eight of 13 games against Wednesday's opponents, are guaranteed to finish top regardless of the result at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, courtesy of their superior head-to-head with Belgium.
Sweden currently occupy third place, but should they fail to beat the Red Devils in Nice and Ireland overcome Italy, the boys in green will take their place in the last 16.
Team news
Italy have six players currently one booking away from a suspension - Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele De Rossi, Eder and Thiago Motta - so Conte is expected to heavily rotate his starting line-up with his side assured of finishing as group winners.
Antonio Candreva is out with a hamstring injury while Simone Zaza will be hopeful of a start, after impressing when he came on for Graziano Pelle in the second half against Sweden, setting up Eder for his 88th-minute winner in Toulouse.
Ireland continue to sweat over the fitness of Jonathan Walters, who again sat out training on Tuesday.
O'Neill added: "Jon didn't train and didn't join in with the team so I will have to say that he will be very doubtful for the game. While there are some things we haven't practised as much as others, the players are pretty adept at this level and we'd have no problem changing the system."
The manager could ring the changes with Richard Keogh, Stephen Quinn, James McClean and Daryl Murphy all in contention for a place in the starting line-up.
Paul Merson's prediction
Republic of Ireland were very poor against Belgium and I couldn't believe some of the goals. How can you have the ball by the opposition corner flag and end up conceding a goal?
Italy can afford to change their whole team and I can't see anything but a win for them. They probably won't even need to bust a gut. Sadly, I can see Ireland going home.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 to Italy
Opta stats
This will be the 14th meeting between these sides. Italy have won eight of the previous 13 while the Republic of Ireland have won two.
Italy defeated Ireland 2-0 at Euro 2012, thanks to a goal apiece from Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli.
Italy have never scored more than two goals in their 35 games at the European Championship.
In their last game, Ireland failed to have a shot on target in a major tournament game for the first time since the 1994 World Cup (vs Norway).
The Green Army are winless in their last seven European Championship fixtures (D2, L5), since winning their first game in the competition against England in 1988.
Ireland have never scored more than one goal in a European Championship game, failing to find the net in four of their eight games in the competition and scoring just four goals in total.
Betting
Italy are 11/8 to wrap up top spot with another victory, with Sky Bet rating Republic of Ireland as 12/5 outsiders, while the draw is priced at 19/10.
The Italians have been cut from 18/1 to 12/1 following back-to-back wins, while Martin O'Neill's men are up against odds of 2/1 just to make the knockout stages.
The Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp have made their Sky Bet predictions, including Charlie Nicholas' 22/1 fancy for Graziano Pelle to score first in a 1-0 Italy victory.
