Italy v. Ireland | 7th June | KO: 19:45 in Liege | SS2

Mr. Guappa

This one has me baffled. What exactly is the point? We've built up a nice bit of momentum and confidence in the last few games so it would be great to keep that going and go into the summer on a high. I'd imagine the likes of Foley, Coleman, Cox and Ward will get another chance to impress.

And why is it on in Belgium?

Predalien

Yeah bit of a strange one, be good hopefully for Ward and Foley to start and I suppose it wouldn't be any harm those who haven't played much football this year to have another game.

James_LWAU

This on RTE?

IRISHSPORTSGUY

If Kilbane starts, I'm resigned to him playing against Slovakia and Russia. At least he'd be playing regular football though as the Huddersfield boss want to make the transfer permanent.

bonerm

I can see why Italy might want the game considering they're in a group with our nursery team, but I can't see why the FAI would want the game. They must owe somebody a favour.

Mr. Guappa

James_LWAU wrote: »

This on RTE?

Nothing on the Sky guide for it but I was full sure that they mentioned it last night in the upcoming matches on RTE bit

RobTheLad

IRISHSPORTSGUY wrote: »

If Kilbane starts, I'm resigned to him playing against Slovakia and Russia. At least he'd be playing regular football though as the Huddersfield boss want to make the transfer permanent.

Apparently Kilbane and Given will miss this game, as they have already booked there coaching badges course which start tomorrow and had organized to do it before this game was announced, and aren't going to be in the squad for Tuesday

TangyZizzle

This is a bit tedious. We've built up a nice bit of momentum and then we're going off to face Italy in Belgium..

TheRedDevil10

Squad available to play against Italy

Goalkeepers
David Forde
Brian Murphy
Defenders
Damien Delaney
Kevin Foley
Stephen Kelly
Paul McShane
Darren O'Dea
Sean St. Ledger
Stephen Ward
Midfielders
Keith Andrews
Seamus Coleman
Stephen Hunt
Liam Lawrence
Keith Treacy
Glenn Whelan
Forwards
Simon Cox
Andy Keogh
Shane Long

My XI to play Italy:

---

Forde
McShane-St. Ledger (if not fit then O'Dea)-Delaney-Ward

---

Coleman-Whelan-Foley-Treacy

---

Long-Keogh

Subs: Murphy, Kelly, O'Dea, Andrews, Hunt, Lawrence, Cox.

TheRedDevil10

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

Nothing on the Sky guide for it but I was full sure that they mentioned it last night in the upcoming matches on RTE bit

Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7:30

Desire.

Is Keiren Westwood injured?

Paully D

tolosenc

Maybe trap has a clause in his contract that we have to play Italy every year or something?

AgileMyth

Perfect game to try Coleman at right back. Thats about all the purpose I can see in it though, and not a hope of him doing it.

ArmaniJeanss

This might answer a few questions as to the why and the where of the game.
Or it might confuse you more like it did to me.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0517/1224297119404.html

Apparently its on in Liege in the hope of appealing to the resident Italian population of 250,000. Would it not have been better to have it in Italy with its resident Italian population of ~63,000,000? NewJersey was suggested at one stage as well it seems.

Coillte_Bhoy

Mac Geady and Hunt were given the choice and both opted to stay with the squad for this game. Fair play to them, especially Aiden as Spartak are playing this weekend.

Cypher_sounds

I hope Gli Azzurri put out a strong team for this, I think any time we play a team of Italys quality is a good thing so im happy about this match being played and looking forward to it.

Pinturicchio

They'll probably make quite a few changes.

http://www.football-italia.net/jun6c.html

Mr. Fancypants

Mcgeady is on his way back to Russia at the request of Spartak http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0606/mcgeadya_ireland.html

UpTheSlashers

Stupid, pointles game. Let the lads go on holiday ffs.

darkman2

The way I look at it in 5 games


We started with our B+ team and won

Then we moved to our B- team and won

No harm in seeing the C team.

Let's hope we have all our best players available for Slovakia and Russia. That's the main thing.



11 goals, none conceded. That's excellent no matter what the opposition.

dubmick

I hope Italy don't put out their first XI or we could get a tonking!

darkman2

dubmick wrote: »

I hope Italy don't put out their first XI or we could get a tonking!

Italy never beat teams by more then 2 goals. They play in a negative way when they have the lead.

bonerm

darkman2 wrote: »

11 goals, none conceded. That's excellent no matter what the opposition.

Why do people keep saying 11-0 here? I think it's the 3rd or 4th time I've read it since Saturday.

If you want to count our last 4 matches then it might help to remember our fourth to last match was a 3-2 loss to Uruguay.

dubmick

darkman2 wrote: »

Italy never beat teams by more then 2 goals. They play in a negative way when they have the lead.

Yeah? They beat Estonia 3-0 on Friday night.

Banjaxed82

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0606/mcshanep.html

:eek:

TheRedDevil10

Team Named - 4-4-2: Forde, McShane (C), St Ledger, O'Dea (Kelly, if not fit), Ward, Coleman, Andrews, Foley, Hunt (Lawrence, if not fit),Keogh, Long.

Subs: Murphy, Kelly, Delaney, Whelan, Treacy, Lawrence, Cox.

TheRedDevil10

mcshane as captain, mother of jaysus :eek:

paddy kerins

TheRedDevil10 wrote: »

mcshane as captain, mother of jaysus :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g0YE61PLQ

darkman2

dubmick wrote: »

Yeah? They beat Estonia 3-0 on Friday night.

pffft your splittin hairs.

bonerm

paddy kerins wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g0YE61PLQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s

Vokes

Viviano; Cassani, Gamberini, Chiellini, Criscito; Nocerino, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Rossi, Pazzini.

Very strong forward line.

bonerm

Vokes wrote: »

Viviano; Cassani, Gamberini, Chiellini, Criscito; Nocerino, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Rossi, Pazzini.

Very strong forward line.

Good selection of players esp in midfield and attack. They even have a few first choice like Chiellini, Montolivo and Pirlo. They seem to be taking the game more seriously than we are anyway.

OT, Robbie Keane has scored more than the entire Italy squad.

Michael Collins

McShane as captain, urgh. I thought Trap said it'd be the most capped player. Surely that's Whelan?

Meanwhile Liam Brady agress with his missus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB4LqWKFgHU

tolosenc

Banjaxed82 wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0606/mcshanep.html

:eek:

Clear as day then that Trap rates him and that he is a key member of his squad...

Sweet Jesus...

WoollyRedHat

Maybe the guy just needs a confidence boost and really is a fantastic defender otherwise... maaaybeee

The_B_Man

Well he was good in his first cupla games, til he played ****e, and presumably lost his confidence, so you could be onto something here!

Sure look at players like Darren Fletcher.

dizzywizlw

Vokes wrote: »

Viviano; Cassani, Gamberini, Chiellini, Criscito; Nocerino, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Rossi, Pazzini.

Very strong forward line.

Rossi and Pazzini being fed by Montolivo and Pirlo will make Captain Ginge have a nervous breakdown.

sdanseo

McShane. Captain. The italian fella really has lost his feckin' marbles this time. I mean it's nice that trap refuses to give up on him but seriously, captain is just pure stupidity.

5-1 Italy?

TaosHum

Can see us getting a good beating in this one.

3-0 Italy.

steelcityblues

2-1 Italy, I reckon.

darkman2

Paul McShane 1-0 Ireland

Zebra3

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

What exactly is the point?

A good jolly up?



Just hope the FAI contracted it out.

bonerm

darkman2 wrote: »

Paul McShane 1-0 Ireland

Ireland 1-2 Italy
McShane 6'
McShane (OG) 89'
McShane (OG) 90'

James_LWAU

TG4 are showing extended highlights of the game at 10:30 hopefully the commentary is in English;)

orourkeda

sdonn wrote: »

McShane. Captain. The italian fella really has lost his feckin' marbles this time. I mean it's nice that trap refuses to give up on him but seriously, captain is just pure stupidity.

5-1 Italy?

Is this the same way he "lost it" when people suggsted he had lost before the game on saturday. This is a friendly

DEVEREUX

McShane Captain??? we must be in the...............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzlG28B-R8Y

digme

You're all like a pack of bloody sheep,so what if he is captain?
Give it a rest ffs ,hope he has a great game.

Dean820

Trap just seems to be awarding his most experienced players who haven't gotten much of a chance. Didn't he make Kelly captain for a game as well?

Get over it.

Coillte_Bhoy

digme wrote: »

You're all like a pack of bloody sheep,so what if he is captain?
Give it a rest ffs ,hope he has a great game.

Well said. Im no fan of his but the amount of posters getting on his back and slagging him off is embarrassing, reminds me of the wrost escesses of the uk tabloids. He's been a regular starter in epl and c'ship teams for the past 6 years so knowledgeable football people must see something in him , i said KNOWLEDGEABLE football people which obviously rules out many on here. he's going to be in the squad as long as trap is manager . Get used to it and support the lad ffs.

darkman2

Any stream for this?