Ireland v Italy - Euro 2016

Euro 2016

Ireland played the final group match of their Euro 2016 finals campaign against Italy in the Stade Pierre Mauoy in Lille on Wesnesday 22 June 2016.

After the reult against Belgium the Irish team manager, Martin O’Neill, knew that it was now knockout football. Nothing but a win for the Irish world do or else it would an early trip home for the players and fans. With this in mind O’Neill rang the changes, leaving out Wes Hoolahan, John O’Shea, Glenn Whelan and Ciaran Clark. Perhaps surprisingly James McCarthy retained his place but moved into the midfield spot previously occupied by Whelan.

Italian manager Antonio Conte made eight changes from the team that beat Sweden. In came Sirigu, Ogbonna, De Sciglio, Sturaro, Motta, Bernardeschi, Zaza and Immobile.

From the kick-off it was clear that the Irish would adopt a much more attacking posture than against Belgium. This was matched by Irish aggression as both Coleman and McCarthy were both lucky not to be booked for tough challenges. Coming up to the ten minute mark Daryl Murphy won a header to enable Jeff Hendrick get on the ball about 45 yards from the Italy goal. Powering forward and Hendrick unleashed a left-footed surface-to-air screamer that fizzed just wide of the top left-hand corner.

Ten minutes later Italian goalkeeper, Sirigu, tipped a powerful Daryl Murphy header over the crossbar. The second string Italian players were struggling to get a foothold in the match. Just before half time Murphy played the ball to James McClean in the Italy penalty area. As the Irishman shaped to shoot Bernardeschi to elbowed him in the back and shoved him over with his hip. A cast iron penalty claim that the Romanian referee, who had a clear view of the incident chose to deny. Despite Irish efforts the score remained 0-0 at the end of the first half.

The Irish resumed the second half as they played the first, dominating the Italians and pressing for a breakthrough goal. After 69 minutes Aiden McGeady came on for Daryl Murphy, who couldn’t be faulted for effort, but still hadn’t broken his duck as far as scoring for Ireland was concerned. Italian substitute Insigne reminded the Irish of how fragile their foothold in the Euros was. He ran at the Ireland defence, took a curling shot and hit the foot of the Irish upright.

At the other end Wes Hoolahan, a substitute for McCarthy, missed the opportunity of the match. Clean through on goal he let Sirigu save when he really should have scored. However with just five minutes left Hoolahan made amends when he curled in a sumptuous cross into the box that was headed home by Robbie Brady. The Norwich man timed his run perfectly and bravely headed home disregarding the risk posed by the advancing Romanian keeper.

They had left it late but Brady’s winning goal ensured that Ireland would advance from Group E to play hosts France in Lyon in the knockout stages.  
RESULT: Ireland 1 - 0 Italy

Euro 2016 - Republic of Ireland V Italy Statistics

Irish & Italian Teams

Republic of Ireland Team
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Darren Randolph; Séamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Richard Keogh, Stephen Ward; Jeff  Hendrick, James McCarthy, Robbie Brady, James McClean; Shane Long, Daryl Murphy. Subs: Aiden McGeady for Murphy (70 mins), Wes Hoolahan for McCarthy (77 mins), Stephen Quinn for Long (89 mins).
Coach: Martin O'Neill. Goal Scorer: Robbie Brady '85. Booked: Shane Long, Stephen Ward

Italy Team
Sirigu; Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Bernardeschi (Darmian, 60 mins), Sturaro, Motta, Florenzi, De Sciglio; Immobile, Zaza. Subs: Darmian for Bernedeschi (60 mins), Insigne for Immobile (74 mins), El Shaarawy for De Sciglio (82 mins).
Coach: Antonio Conte. Booked: Sirigu, Zaza, Barzagli, Insigne

Date: 22 June 2016. Venue: Stade Pirre Mauroy, Lille, France. Attendance: 49,800. Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan  (Romania).

2016 Euro Group E Table After Final Round of Matches

Euro 2016 - Group E - Final Standings
	Nation	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	Goals F	Goals A	Points
	Italy	3	2	0	1	3	1	6
	Belgium	3	2	0	1	4	2	6
	Republic of Ireland	3	1	1	1	2	4	4
	Sweden	3	0	1	2	1	3	1

Ireland & 1990 World Cup Finals - Irish Squad World Cup 1990
Ireland V England 1990 - Ireland V Egypt 1990 - Ireland V Holland 1990
Ireland V Romania 1990 - Ireland V Italy 1990
Ireland & 1994 World Cup Finals - Irish Squad World Cup 1994
Ireland V Italy 1994 - Ireland V Mexico 1994 - Ireland V Norway 1994 - Ireland V Netherlands 1994
Ireland & 2002 World Cup Finals - 2002 World Cup Irish Squad - 2002 World Cup Irish Group Matches
Ireland V Cameroon 2002 - Ireland V Germany 2002 - Ireland V Saudi Arabia 2002 - Ireland V Spain 2002

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