Italy 0 - 2 Republic of Ireland
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The Republic of Ireland concluded their season with a hugely encouraging 2-0 win over Italy at the Maurice Dufrasne Stadium in Liege tonight.
A goal in either half from Keith Andrews and Simon Cox helped deliver Ireland’s sixth win of this calendar year and fourth success in 18 days, following the Carling Nations Cup victories over Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as the vital three points won in Skopje against Macedonia on Saturday.
And although manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s celebrations were distinguished in their muteness, the Italian would have been delighted with how his largely second-string team performed against his compatriots. Another clean sheet, too, for a gentleman who prides himself on conservatism, will have enforced Trapattoni’s belief in his policies.
There was a hullaballoo about the non-attendance of a number of players for the end of season internationals and those who performed so competently in Belgium may have hop-scotched ahead in the queue. Trapattoni is well known for having a long memory. That, though, is an issue for another day.
Again, Ireland were culpable of giving up possession too easily but compensated for those shortcomings with a spirited and organised showing that enabled goalkeeper David Forde, making only his second appearance after a cameo against Northern Ireland, have a much less complicated night than he may have anticipated.
But when the Forde was called into action, like in the 32nd minute when he scampered from his line to smother ahead of Giuseppe Rossi after a threaded through ball by Claudio Marchisio, the Galway man did things well.
Only Andrews, Stephen Hunt and Darren O’Dea maintained their starting positions from the Macedonian win, but Trapattoni used a familiar system with different faces effectively. Without arguably the county’s top five players – Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Shay Given, Richard Dunne and Kevin Doyle – there was a window of opportunity for the likes of Seamus Coleman, Kevin Foley, Shane Long and Stephen Ward.
Kitted in all black, Ireland saw little of the ball in both halves, particularly the second, but were, by and large, economical. That credit couldn’t have been lavished on Andrews and Hunt when the Blackburn Rovers midfielder laid off a free-kick from a potentially prosperous position on the edge of Emiliano Viviano’s penalty area. Andrews rolled sideways and with Hunt unawares, the ball wandered harmlessly out for a throw-in.
Optimism levels increased when the new front pairing combined well. Andy Keogh and Shane Long interchanged neatly only for the Reading front man to drag his shot wide as the angle decreased. Giampaolo Pazzini was similarly off target at the other end when Marchisio paved the way.
Andrews and Hunt spectacularly made up for their pervious misdemeanour when they combined for the opening goal on 36 minutes. Hunt tapped a free some 30 yards from goal to his colleague. With the Italians standing static, Andrews even had time to take a steadying touch before smashing a daisy-cutter right inside Viviano’s post for a superb opening goal.
The goal buoyed Ireland but with memories of twice surrendering leads against the same opponents at Croke Park in October 2009 fresh in the memory, managed to hold out comfortably until the interval. Ireland surrendered possession after the break but their shape and willingness kept their competitiveness as Coleman offered cover to stand-in captain Paul McShane, while Hunt was also putting in a fine shift on the left.
A wash of substitutions diluted the level of incident in the rain the further the clock rolled into the night. Breaks forward from Ireland were infrequent, although Ward, following a back heel from Hunt, played a dangerous ball into the penalty area that saw no takers. At the back, O’Dea and Sean St Ledger, who still didn’t look match-fit after his three-month lay-off but couldn’t be faulted, were restricting Italy to optimistic pop-shots, none of which troubled Forde. Free-kicks from Sebastian Giovinco were woefully short of the standard.
With the game apparently petering out, there was to be one moment of significant action as Ward fed Hunt down the left. The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger fleeced Mattia Cassani and squared invitingly to Cox, who wild home Ireland’s second goal from the second shot on target. Again, Trapattoni barely raised a smile but Cox’s coupe de grace completed a notable scalp and a fine end to the campaign.
Italy: Emiliano Viviano; Mattia Cassani, Alessandro Gamberini, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito (Federico Balzaretti, 66); Antonio Nocerino (Sebastian Giovinco, 59), Andrea Pirlo (Angelo Palombo, 46), Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo; Giuseppe Rossi (Alessandro Matri, 46), Giampaolo Pazzini (Alberto Gilardino, 59)
Republic of Ireland: David Forde; Paul McShane, Darren O'Dea (Stephen Kelly, 83), Sean St. Ledger, Stephen Ward (Damien Delaney, 94); Seamus Coleman, Kevin Foley (Glenn Whelan, 60), Keith Andrews, Stephen Hunt, Andy Keogh (Keith Treacy, 75), Shane Long (Simon Cox, 60).
A goal in either half from Keith Andrews and Simon Cox helped deliver Ireland’s sixth win of this calendar year and fourth success in 18 days, following the Carling Nations Cup victories over Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as the vital three points won in Skopje against Macedonia on Saturday.
And although manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s celebrations were distinguished in their muteness, the Italian would have been delighted with how his largely second-string team performed against his compatriots. Another clean sheet, too, for a gentleman who prides himself on conservatism, will have enforced Trapattoni’s belief in his policies.
There was a hullaballoo about the non-attendance of a number of players for the end of season internationals and those who performed so competently in Belgium may have hop-scotched ahead in the queue. Trapattoni is well known for having a long memory. That, though, is an issue for another day.
Again, Ireland were culpable of giving up possession too easily but compensated for those shortcomings with a spirited and organised showing that enabled goalkeeper David Forde, making only his second appearance after a cameo against Northern Ireland, have a much less complicated night than he may have anticipated.
But when the Forde was called into action, like in the 32nd minute when he scampered from his line to smother ahead of Giuseppe Rossi after a threaded through ball by Claudio Marchisio, the Galway man did things well.
Only Andrews, Stephen Hunt and Darren O’Dea maintained their starting positions from the Macedonian win, but Trapattoni used a familiar system with different faces effectively. Without arguably the county’s top five players – Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Shay Given, Richard Dunne and Kevin Doyle – there was a window of opportunity for the likes of Seamus Coleman, Kevin Foley, Shane Long and Stephen Ward.
Kitted in all black, Ireland saw little of the ball in both halves, particularly the second, but were, by and large, economical. That credit couldn’t have been lavished on Andrews and Hunt when the Blackburn Rovers midfielder laid off a free-kick from a potentially prosperous position on the edge of Emiliano Viviano’s penalty area. Andrews rolled sideways and with Hunt unawares, the ball wandered harmlessly out for a throw-in.
Optimism levels increased when the new front pairing combined well. Andy Keogh and Shane Long interchanged neatly only for the Reading front man to drag his shot wide as the angle decreased. Giampaolo Pazzini was similarly off target at the other end when Marchisio paved the way.
Andrews and Hunt spectacularly made up for their pervious misdemeanour when they combined for the opening goal on 36 minutes. Hunt tapped a free some 30 yards from goal to his colleague. With the Italians standing static, Andrews even had time to take a steadying touch before smashing a daisy-cutter right inside Viviano’s post for a superb opening goal.
The goal buoyed Ireland but with memories of twice surrendering leads against the same opponents at Croke Park in October 2009 fresh in the memory, managed to hold out comfortably until the interval. Ireland surrendered possession after the break but their shape and willingness kept their competitiveness as Coleman offered cover to stand-in captain Paul McShane, while Hunt was also putting in a fine shift on the left.
A wash of substitutions diluted the level of incident in the rain the further the clock rolled into the night. Breaks forward from Ireland were infrequent, although Ward, following a back heel from Hunt, played a dangerous ball into the penalty area that saw no takers. At the back, O’Dea and Sean St Ledger, who still didn’t look match-fit after his three-month lay-off but couldn’t be faulted, were restricting Italy to optimistic pop-shots, none of which troubled Forde. Free-kicks from Sebastian Giovinco were woefully short of the standard.
With the game apparently petering out, there was to be one moment of significant action as Ward fed Hunt down the left. The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger fleeced Mattia Cassani and squared invitingly to Cox, who wild home Ireland’s second goal from the second shot on target. Again, Trapattoni barely raised a smile but Cox’s coupe de grace completed a notable scalp and a fine end to the campaign.
Italy: Emiliano Viviano; Mattia Cassani, Alessandro Gamberini, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito (Federico Balzaretti, 66); Antonio Nocerino (Sebastian Giovinco, 59), Andrea Pirlo (Angelo Palombo, 46), Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo; Giuseppe Rossi (Alessandro Matri, 46), Giampaolo Pazzini (Alberto Gilardino, 59)
Republic of Ireland: David Forde; Paul McShane, Darren O'Dea (Stephen Kelly, 83), Sean St. Ledger, Stephen Ward (Damien Delaney, 94); Seamus Coleman, Kevin Foley (Glenn Whelan, 60), Keith Andrews, Stephen Hunt, Andy Keogh (Keith Treacy, 75), Shane Long (Simon Cox, 60).
