Extremely harsh, been the better team for large parts of the game.

Trap and Tardelli are making me laugh, you would think they are Irish they are so exciteable

Noticed the goal game in on Bocchetti's position, might have been a problem there with the new lad but pretty much great ball.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL GILARDINO!!!

Trap looks like someone spat in his ragu, poor old chap

Iaquinta with great work and a weak Gila shot deceived Given who dived the wrong way, might have been a deflection?

Ireland 2-2 Italy

Both teams still going for the win lol, this Italy makes me laugh at times.

FT: Ireland 2-2 Italy

Italia in aero.

That late Ireland goal was a bit of a sickener but Italy did well to make the most of their excitement, Gila with a classic poach.

2010 World Cup qualifier - 10/10/09 (20.00 UK)

Rep Ireland 2-2 Italy

Whelan 7 ®, Camoranesi 26 (I), St Ledger 86 ®, Gilardino 89 (I)

Croke Park, Dublin

Alberto Gilardino's last gasp equaliser sealed Italy's place in South Africa, as they twice fought back against the Republic of Ireland.

This was a head-to-head at the top of the Group and the Azzurri (tonight playing in white) needed only a point to be sure of qualification. Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland also required only a draw to lock down a play-off spot after Bulgaria's 4-1 defeat in Cyprus earlier this evening.

Fabio Cannavaro was suspended and Claudio Marchisio underwent knee surgery this morning, so Nicola Legrottaglie stepped into the defence, while Antonio Di Natale, Mauro Camoranesi and an advanced Andrea Pirlo supported lone striker Vincenzo Iaquinta. Giuseppe Rossi and Davide Santon were in the stands. Ireland had Damien Duff, Darron Gibson and Steven Reid injured, so gave Liam Lawrence his first competitive start.

Both teams were unbeaten in Group 8 and had drawn 1-1 when they met in Bari on April 1, although Giampaolo Pazzini was very harshly sent off just three minutes in. There was a minute's silence before kick-off for the dozens who died in recent floods in Messina.

Italy had played here three times before and won every game 2-1 in 1971, 1985 and 2005.

Ireland opened the scoring with their first chance. Legrottaglie mistimed his tackle on Robbie Keane down the right flank and the Lawrence free kick was rolled back to outside the D where Glenn Whelan smashed it into the near top corner.

Another Lawrence free kick, this time from the other wing, was flapped away with some difficulty by Gigi Buffon. Fabio Grosso fired a free kick into the defensive wall. Grosso then got down the left and skipped back past Lawrence only for Daniele De Rossi to scuff the finish. McGeady went on a rapid counter before he was eventually closed down.

Grosso took matters into his own hands with a splendid volley that Shay Given smothered with his chest. Moments later Di Natale caused panic in the Irish box.

From that corner Pirlo curled the ball in for Mauro Camoranesi's header from six yards as Italy equalised. Given, on his 99th cap, got his hands to it, but the header was just too powerful and squirmed in at the near post.

Whelan was first into the book for a tackle from behind on Angelo Palombo and will be suspended for the game against Montenegro. Iaquinta was flagged offside by centimetres when one-on-one with Given and another Pirlo corner, this time to the back post for Legrottaglie, was nodded wide.

Keane's acrobatic overhead kick was wide after fine work from Aiden McGeady, while Pirlo rather ambitiously hit a free kick straight at goal from 45 yards.

Italy thought they had gone 2-1 up within 90 seconds of the restart. Pirlo's free kick was flicked off Chiellini's head for Iaquinta to get a final touch, but the Juventus man was marginally offside and so the goal was disallowed.

An Irish free kick found John O'Shea totally unmarked, but his weak looping header was easy prey for Buffon. Ireland won a free kick outside the D, but Lawrence hit it at the wall and Andrews ballooned the follow-up over. Meanwhile, Trapattoni was spotted clutching his famous bottle of holy water on the touchline.

It took body blocks from both Legrottaglie and Chiellini to close down Keane for a corner. Lawrence whipped it in for Dunne's header straight at Buffon. Moments later Italy nearly scored a second, as Iaquinta lobbed it back from the byline for O'Shea to anticipate a totally unmarked Di Natale.

Iaquinta at full stretch couldn't get control of a smart Di Natale ball over the top and Pirlo's strike was charged down, then De Rossi was booked for a tug on McGeady. Trap made two changes, introducing Leon Best and Martin Rowlands.

Zambrotta cut in from the right and smashed a powerful angled drive that Given pushed round the base of the near post. De Rossi drilled wide from distance before Alberto Gilardino and Salvatore Bocchetti replaced Di Natale and Grosso. It was the senior Italy debut for the 22-year-old Genoa defender and pushed Iaquinta wide left.

O'Shea was again decisive when intercepting a Camoranesi cross for the head of Iaquinta. Trapattoni's final substitution saw Stephen Hunt replace McGeady.

Iaquinta blasted over at the end of a good passing move, as Italy were keeping the ball comfortably now. Best went into the book for a late sliding tackle on De Rossi and a Pirlo set piece flashed across the face of goal.

However, Ireland scored against the run of play. Hunt earned a free kick down the left and whipped it into the six-yard box for a diving St Ledger header at the back post. Camoranesi should've cut out the cross, but was late, while Trapattoni had waved the defender forward for this kick.

Marcello Lippi was unbeaten since 2004 in Slovenia and threw on Simone Pepe for Palombo. It worked wonders! Italy equalised within 60 seconds! Pepe charged on the counter and passed low for Iaquinta, who rolled across for Gilardino at full stretch to side-foot in from eight yards, sending Given the wrong way.

Republic of Ireland: Given; O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan (Rowlands 70), McGeady (Hunt 78); Keane, Doyle (Best 67)

Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso (Bocchetti 76); De Rossi, Palombo (Pepe 89); Camoranesi, Pirlo, Di Natale (Gilardino 76); Iaquinta

Ref: Hauge (Nor)

lol

Good effort by little Ireland to hold, and nearly beat the world champs, but even a loss for the Italians wouldn't have made much difference to the outcome of the group.

Lippi: Defeat would've been 'injustice'



Marcello Lippi said it would have been “a huge injustice” if Italy had lost in Dublin, pointing out every time they qualified a round early, they won the trophy.

“If we had lost this game it would've been a huge injustice,” he said of the 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland.

“The lads played with character, grit and quality. Conceding three minutes from time was very harsh. The players passed the ball around well at the end and created this goal for a deserved draw.”

The Azzurri had to twice fight back for the point at Croke Park, as Mauro Camoranesi and an 89th minute Alberto Gilardino strike cancelled out Glenn Whelan and St Ledger.

“You don't just need spirit to score a goal. Gilardino barely touched the ball surrounded by defenders, but he made the difference with it.

“The great thing about this side is whoever plays, in whatever portion of the match, is very enthusiastic and eager to contribute,” continued Lippi.

“To play in front of 75,000 people and faced with this very warm atmosphere in the Irish spirit, we did well to get a result. We had scored another goal with Vincenzo Iaquinta and I don't know why it was disallowed.”

Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland are mathematically in the play-offs, while Italy can now defend their 2006 trophy and Lippi points out an interesting statistic.

“In the only two previous times Italy qualified a round early was in 1982 and 2006. We say that just for the record, not taking any of it seriously.

“We had to reconstruct a squad and are still under construction, but our last two games against Bulgaria and Ireland have been very positive with steps forward.

“I saw that step forward, now we need others, but for now let us enjoy this deserved qualification that saw us unbeaten.”

Football Italia

-------------------------------

It'll be nigh impossible for this team to retain the World Cup, but it is getting better all the time, thankfully now there is a competent coach in charge.

Didn't see it so can't comment but congratz on qualifying. So now, hopefully Pirlo will play zero minutes next match.

PS: Pardon my ignorance, what were the black armbands for?

For those who died in the Sicilian mudslides.

They don't look anything like as good as the Italy sides of a few years back, but they will still be a big threat in South Africa along with Germany as well.

Funnily enough people said the same before 2006, it's just about what a team does in a tournament.

I still can't believe Lippi doesn't call Cassano, and Pazzini is a good shout too. However Di Natale is top scorer in Serie A right now, Gilardino, Iaquinta and Rossi all in good form too so lots of options up front, but Cassano is a special player who could win a match on his own.

Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5zTQwA2tMk

Looks like maybe this for the Cyprus game:



Basically the B team plus Cannavaro who needs the match practise.

Marchetti: 'My Italy fairytale'



Federico Marchetti was unemployed four years ago, but is set to start for Italy tomorrow against Cyprus. “It’s a fairytale!”

The Cagliari goalkeeper is expected to man the posts at the Stadio Tardini on Wednesday evening to give Gianluigi Buffon a rest.

“What I am experiencing with the Nazionale is a fairytale when I think back to four years ago. Torino went bankrupt and I was left without a club,” he explained.

Last season he impressed in Sardinia and has been linked with numerous top sides, including Milan.

“My only objective for the future is to continue working hard. The idea of reaching a big club is of course every player’s dream, but it will be in this campaign with Cagliari that I’ll prove I am worthy of their interest.”

Buffon is left out of the final World Cup qualifier because Italy are already qualified, but also as he is struggling with a meniscus injury that will require surgery over the winter break.

“Buffon is unique, it’s impossible to get near his level,” added Marchetti. “My focus is entirely on tomorrow’s game and making the most of this opportunity.”

------------------------

Nice story, I hope he does his club form justice on Wednesday, his big move to a big club should happen next summer if he continues in this form.

1-0 to Cyprus at half time, Okkas with an early goal.

ITALIA (4-3-2-1): 1 Marchetti, 2 Santon, 5 Cannavaro, 4 Gamberini, 3 Bocchetti, 7 Pepe, 6 D'Agostino, 8 Gattuso, 11 Quagliarella, 10 Rossi, 9 Gilardino

(12 De Sanctis, 13 Zambrotta, 14 Legrottaglie, 15 Palombo, 16 De Rossi, 17 Pirlo, 18 Di Natale)

Italy B playing like shit really, Cyprus could have had a second goal too, lots of possession for Italy but I think some of these guys look like they don't want to go to the World Cup.

2-0 to Cyprus...

Italy 0-2 Cyprus, Michael just after half time pmsl.

Seems every Cypriot attack is a goal, but fair play to them. In general play even with this team it is clear there is a gulf, but the score and performance of the defenders is not doing any of them any favours. Embarassing so far.

Cypriot football really has improved a lot in a short time, shame some of these nearly men in the Italy side don't play with the same desire.

Italy still with pretty much all of the ball but look a bit clueless and can't break down the massed defenders, Cyprus also look threatening on the counter but a goal may turn this game round. Lippi is trying in vain to keep his unbeaten streak going, De Rossi is on now.

Not sure why Gattuso is trying to hit 60 yard balls, just shows how disjointed this is.

Di Natale should have scored after breaking through against the goalkeeper on the angle, at the keeper though.

Gilardino header nearly scores but good save from the keeper.

Cyprus look much more like a team, very well drilled and attack in very deliberate patterns. Italy just looks like XI players thrown together, can't be helped I guess.

The Cypriot keeper is doing brilliantly, first stops Quagliarella low on a one-on-one and then tips a long range shot from Di Natale round the post.

Gol Gilardino, nice flicked header from the cross in. Italy 1-2 Cyprus.

Italy all over Cyprus now who look all over the place, might be too late maybe?

Gilardino again, gol Italia.

Cross in from the right again, finish at the near post.

Italy 2-2 Cyprus.

Cyprus look like a bit like a pub team in defence now, just shows how momentum and confidence can shift quickly.

Fantastic shot by Charalambides, but Marchetti makes a great save, Cyprus nearly ahead again!

Gilardino obviously likes the Parma air, both teams going for the win in the last 8 minutes.

Di Natale sort of hits the post through the keeper.

Italy are so lucky...

Santon with a great long range shot but the keeper is equal again.

so what?

italy will still be favorites to win the world cup next summer.

Cyprus are lucky to have a good goalkeeper and an arrogant opponent, but they scores two nice goals.

Goooooooooooooool Italia.

well it wont be your fucking lot as favs

fucking mafia got to cyprus at half time..

Right at the death, great run from Di Natale finds Quagliarella in acres of space, shot is half saved from the goalkeeper one-on-one on the angle, it trickles towards the line and three dive in and it goes in the net. Was already over, is Quagliarella's goal surely.

Got to Italy players more like lol.

FT: Italy 3-2 Cyprus.

I feel a bit sorry for Cyprus tbh, would have been an historic win for them even in the circumstances, they love everything Italian as well.

As for Italy, didn't deserve to be 2-0 down and probably would have won by quite a few with a bit better finishing but the goalkeeper did very well for Cyprus. Cyprus scored two very nice goals but it was a typically unprofessional attitude by Italy against a smaller team, they clearly had a kick up the ass at HT but Cyprus put a spanner in that with a very nice goal, then it was mostly Azzurri pressure and some threatening counter attacks from Cyprus. Shame for them they are not as good in defence as the rest of the pitch, they just didn't have enough to hang on but Gilardino's header was important as Italy started to run out of ideas and it caused panic for them.

i expect england to crash and burn as always

Lippi: "Fans are a disgrace!"

A furious Marcello Lippi blasted the protesting Tardini fans after their 3-2 win over Cyprus. “It's shameful! It's an absolute disgrace!”

The Azzurri were 2-0 down in Parma and jeered off the field at half-time, chanting for the inclusion of Antonio Cassano.

Alberto Gilardino's brace and a Fabio Quagliarella strike - perhaps with Gila's final touch - completed the stunning late comeback.

“We earned qualification on Saturday, so you can imagine there was some celebration,” said a clearly angry Lippi.

“I changed the entire starting XI, unthinkable in a qualifier, we are world champions and came here to play a game that doesn't count at all.

“As soon as we ran into some difficulties, which is understandable as they hadn't played before ever, the fans start insulting them and chanting the name of other players?

“It's shameful! It's an absolute disgrace and the supporters should show more love and recognition for this Nazionale.

“This team, which let us not forget are world champions - I repeat, world champions - again qualified a round early.

“Naturally we celebrated and so were not as concentrated as we would've been had this game counted for something.

“At the first difficulty, these lads are told to 'go to work' by the fans? Are we crazy here? And they can do nothing other than call for the Coach to bring in other players? Do these boys not deserve support now?

“These players deserve a lot of respect. It's too easy to then chant 'Italia! Italia!' when we win, these are the same players who got that victory and completed an impressive comeback.”

http://www.football-italia.net/oct14u.html

-------------------------

Lippi a bit pissed I think he is getting really irritated with the whole Cassano thing, he just isn't going to call him. I heard the chants, weren't that bad. Let's be honest, if you have paid money to watch that as many did in Parma, then to watch the B team play like idiots and be 2-0 down at home to Cyprus you can't expect anything else, fans are the same wherever you go.

Anyway, at least they showed some desire and urgency in the second half, good comeback.

2010 World Cup qualifier - 14/10/09 (19.00 UK)

Italy 3 - 2 Cyprus

Okkas 12 ©, Michail 47 ©, Gilardino 77, 80 (I), Quagliarella 92 (I)

Stadio Tardini, Parma


Italy were embarrassing for 76 minutes, but Alberto Gilardino's brace and Fabio Quagliarella fought back from 2-0 down to beat Cyprus 3-2!

The Azzurri were already qualified for the World Cup, so Marcello Lippi performed some experiments in an all-new line-up for the final match. Fabio Cannavaro returned from suspension, while Alberto Gilardino got a start after coming off the bench to net the decisive goal in Dublin on Saturday night. The squad was completely revamped and saw Simone Pepe fielded in an unusual midfield role.

Cyprus ended Bulgaria's qualifying hopes at the weekend with a 4-1 hammering and were only beaten 2-1 in the September 2008 first round thanks to Antonio Di Natale's stoppage-time winner. In fact, the visitors got off to a very aggressive start, forcing a corner and then Ioannis Okkas firing over in the opening 90 seconds.

At the other end, Gennaro Gattuso won back the ball to spark Gila's counter, pulled back for Fabio Quagliarella to test the goalkeeper.

But it was no real surprise when Cyprus took the lead with a well-worked move. It started down the left as Konstantinos Makridis dribbled between two players and his slide-rule pass found Okkas at full stretch to toe-poke past Marchetti. Italy had also gone behind in the early stages in Dublin.

Okkas sprung the offside trap soon after to go clear on goal and drilled wide. Santon created a great chance when he skipped past three defenders and rolled back to a totally unmarked Pepe in the D, but the Udinese man ballooned well over.

Gaetano D'Agostino threaded through to send Gilardino one-on-one, but goalkeeper Sofronis Avgousti plucked the ball off his feet. Giuseppe Rossi's angled drive was deflected into the arms of Avgousti after Salvatore Bocchetti's cross was left by both Gila and Quagliarella.

Quagliarella was lining up a shot just outside the box when he was hacked down with a studs on the ankle challenge, but the referee opted not to wave the yellow card. D'Agostino took the free kick, which whipped inches past the near post.

Pepe wasted his second golden opportunity of the match, as a perfect counter saw Rossi flick the ball up for the Udinese player to scuff his volley from 10 yards.

Cyprus were forced into a substitution, as Paraskevas Christou picked up an injury and made way for Marinos Satsias. Italy made a tactical change, moving Pepe and Quagliarella to the wings of a 4-4-1-1.

Makridis needed a crucial defensive header to prevent Gilardino getting on the end of a Bocchetti cross from the left. Marios Ilia's header from a corner was comfortably held by Marchetti.

Gattuso was booked on the stroke of half-time for a late tackle on Andreas Avraam. Gilardino knocked down a long Cannavaro pass for Quagliarella's shot on the bounce to fly over. The Azzurri go into the second half hoping to defend their unbeaten record in qualifying, but were jeered off mercilessly by the Tardini crowd at the break.

Lippi made two changes, introducing Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi in place of Rossi and Pepe, who were both particularly disappointing in the first 45 minutes.

However, it was Cyprus who went 2-0 up! A Gamberini header flicked on Makridis' cross and Chrysostomos Michail lined up the volley perfectly from eight yards. It flashed past Bocchetti and across the face of goal and the Tardini fans chanted for Antonio Cassano to be recalled to the squad.

It said something of Italy's form on this evening that Gattuso had their best chance of the game so far. Cannavaro sparked the counter from midfield and the Milan midfielder smashed a powerful effort that stung Avgousti's palms.

Di Natale was twice flagged offside, but Cyprus held the ball well. Di Natale tried to dribble through a wall of defenders after Gattuso again started the move and the final substitution saw D'Agostino replaced by Daniele De Rossi.

Di Natale nutmegged Sinisa Dobrasinovic only to hit the weak finish straight at the goalkeeper.

There was a fine opportunity on 73 minutes, as De Rossi rose above the crowd for a header into the ground from Di Natale's cross, which Avgousti did very well to parry.

The substitutions livened the Azzurri up, as first Avgosti came flying off his line to prod the ball off Quagliarella's feet, then the move continued with a Di Natale screamer swerving inches past the post.

They finally hit the back of the net with Gilardino's second goal in as many games, a trademark glancing header from Camoranesi's cross that slotted into the far bottom corner.

Incredibly, Italy completed the comeback from 2-0 down to 2-2 in the space of three minutes! Quagliarella crossed from the right byline and again Gilardino was there to pounce, volleying in from six yards! It was the Fiorentina hitman's 15th goal for his country.

However, Marchetti had to perform a spectacular one-handed save to palm Konstantis Charalampidis' snapshot round the far post.

Di Natale almost scored one of the goals of the season, as he kept his volley so low from practically the byline that it squirmed between the goalkeeper's legs and hit the upright! Santon had provided the cross and went for goal himself soon after with a powerful blockbuster.

Cyprus had lost 2-1 to Italy at the 92nd in stoppages and they were punished again! Gilardino wanted to claim the hat-trick, but by the time he got the final touch to Quagliarella's angled drive, it was already on the line. It remains to be seen who will get that goal.

Italy: Marchetti; Santon, Gamberini, Cannavaro, Bocchetti; Pepe (Camoranesi 46), D'Agostino (De Rossi 66), Gattuso; Rossi (Di Natale 46), Quagliarella; Gilardino

Cyprus: Avgousti; Charalambous, Christou (Satsias 30), Michail, Charalampidis; Ilia, Makridis, Okkas (Alexandrou 85), Aloneftis (Konstantinou 73); Avraam, Dobrasinovic

Ref: Yefet (Isr)

I always rated Gila as a shithead. He's always proving me wrong.

I am a bit love-hate with him, he sometimes has that Inzaghi goal-poacher extraordinaire about him and other times he is a useless prat who falls over at the slightest touch. It is more annoying because against Ireland in one move at the end he powered through three defenders with ease, he just goes down for easy freekicks sometimes.