Italy 2-0 Ireland Highlights – Euro 2012
Italy earn the victory they need against already eliminated Republic of Ireland to go through to the last eight of Euro 2012.
Watch Euro 2012 match, Italy Vs Ireland highlights here.
Venue: Municipal Stadium, Poznan
Date: Monday, 18 June
Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Highlights
Extended Highlights
Alternative Highlights
1-0 Cassano 35′
2-0 Balotelli 90′
Head-to-head
This is the third meeting between the countries at a major tournament but the first at a European Championship. Italy won their 1990 World Cup encounter 1-0, Ireland won by the same scoreline four years later at the 1994 World Cup.
This fixture takes place on the 18-year anniversary of Ray Houghton’s famous winner for Ireland in their 1-0 win over Italy at the 1994 World Cup in New York.
Ireland are unbeaten in three matches against Italy under Giovanni Trapattoni’s management. They won a friendly 2-0 in the Belgian city of Liege last summer, following on from back-to-back draws in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
Italy
Italy have gone six games without a win at either the European Championship or World Cup finals since beating France 2-0 in their final group stage match in Euro 2008 – it’s their longest ever major tournament winless streak.
The Italians have won their final group game at the last three Euros tournaments – 2-0 against France in 2008, 2-1 versus Bulgaria in 2004 and 2-1 against Sweden in 2000.
Italy could become the first country to draw all three group matches in Euro finals history.
Ireland
Giovanni Trapattoni is looking to become the first man to coach a nation to victory against his motherland at the European Championship since Guus Hiddink, whose Russia side beat the Netherlands 3-1 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.
Trapattoni has failed to progress from the group stages in both Euros he has managed in, after also failing to advance with Italy in 2004.
Damien Duff will win his 100th cap, becoming the fifth player to reach this milestone for Ireland.