By Anna Italia
Covering the 2010 World Cup Qualifier South Africa from an Italian Perspective


        43% Ball possession Ireland and 57% Ball Possession Italy

                  Ireland 2 - 2 Italy
                                8' Glenn Whelan                         26' Mauro Camoranesi
                               87' Sean St. Ledger                    90' Alberto Gilardino

We did it, Italy QUALIFIED for the 2010 World Cup!  
         


Click here to watch LIVE online streaming the 2010 World Cup qualifier game Republic of Ireland vs Italy on Saturday, October 10, 2009

Substitutes:  66' Kevin Doyle out, Leon Best in                  76' Fabio Grosso out, Salvatore Bocchetti in
                       70' Glenn Whelan out, Martin Rowlands in    76' Antonio Di Natale out, Alberto Gilardino in
                       78' Aiden McGeady out, Stephen Hunt in      89' Angelo Palombo out, Simone Pepe in

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 In search of the 1 point needed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup or the 3 points to reaffirm the passing.

Here is the official starting eleven formation for Republic of Ireland by Coach Giovanni Trapattoni:

Republic of Ireland: Shay Given, John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St. Ledger, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Liam Lawrence, Kevin Kilbane, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane, and Kevin Doyle.

Here is the official starting eleven formation for ITALY by coach Marcello Lippi:

Italy:Gianluigi Buffon, Nicola Legrottaglie, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Grosso, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Camoranesi, Daniele De Rossi, Angelo Palombo, Vincenzo Iaquinta, and Antonio Di Natale

Surprise, surprise for Italy guys...  It seems the pressure from Irish fans for the home team giving the  added punch, the adrenaline for Ireland in the 8th minute taking the lead.  Yep.  I just could not believe it myself!!!  An assist by Liam Lawrence coming from the right wind and finding midfielder Glenn Whelan who with all his inspiration with a right footed shot blasts Italy goalkeeper Gigi Buffon in the upper left corner.  Ooops.... silence and surprise among Italian players for this early knock, knock at the door....
Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Italy

The moment of redemption for the AZZURRIIIII  in the 26th minute after a corner from AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo  and inswinger in the near post finding in the right position midfielder Mauro Camoranesi heading the ball and literally blasting Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Given  in the lower left corner not able to stop the powerful shot for the pride of Italy and falling in the effort to save.
Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 Italy

Hey hey hey... Mauro Camoranesi celebrating his goal while Ireland players observed petrified!

What a luck guys, imagine a goal ruled out for Italy in the 47th minute, the very start of the second half.!  Again assist by midfielder Andrea Pirlo from a free kick and a bim bam boom between defender Giorgio Chiellini heading the ball to find forward Vincenzo Iaquinta but  Referee Terje Hauge rules out the goal for offside.......

Ireland Coach Trapattoni makes a substitution in the 66th minute trying to push the team to get a winning goal by bringing a forward for a forward.  Kevin Doyle out, Leon Best in.

In the67th minute Referee Hauge gives a yellow card to Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi for a bad foul and obviously on McGeady!  Gee...

Not even 5 minutes, and Trapattoni making another substitution in the 70th minute, the man of the goal is out Glenn Whelan and  turn for Martin Rowlands.  Hey, Whelan leaves the field with a standing ovation from the fans....

In the 76th minute, Lippi makes a double substitution and I am already mad because I want to see Italy winning convincingly and scoring more than 1 goal.  Having said that, Fabio Grosso out, Salvatore Bocchetti in; Antonio Di Natale out, Alberto Gilardino in.

Oh what a luck!  I wanted Di Natale to score... well, let's hope Gilardino comes inspired ... forzaaa

Agonizing minutes....  the draw so far helps Italy...

In the 78th minute Ireland making the last substitution and coach Trapattoni brings Hunt while McGeady is out.

In the 81st minute so close to deliver the winning goal...  Italy forward Vincenzo Iaquinta from about 20 meters with a right footed shot but oges off target too high!!!!!!

wow, wow, wow.. oh oh spagheti oh! In the 87th minute, you just won't believe it guys but Trapattoni surprising Italy!!!!!!  A goal by Sean St. Ledger becoming the hero of the match so far for Ireland!!!
Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Italy

Oh my gosh!!!!!  I am disappointed watching Italy struglling....until when we are going to see a convincing victory, a top footaball as World Cup Champions?/???

In the 89th minute, Lippi makes his last substitution Angelo Palombo out, Simone Pepe in

GUYSSSSSSSSSSSS goooallll in the agonizing last minute with forward Alberto Gilardino saving the draw, the much needed one point needed for the 2010 World Cup qualification!!!!!   Yes, yes, yes, in the 90th minute Gilardino with a right footed shot trashing all hope from Ireland to grab the three points and bam bam bam blasting goalkeeper Given in the lower left corner! An assist by Vincenzo Iaquinta from the left... and party time pass the pizzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Italy

Match over...... Italy saved by Gilardinooooooooooooooooooo


Wave your Italian Flags because Gilardino secured the qualification for the 2010 World Cup! po po po po po



Click the video to watch the highlights of the 2010 World Cup Qualifier match Group 8 Republic of Ireland - Italy on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Standings - Europe Group 8 Table Updated on Saturday, October 10, 2009 Buy your tickets here: World Cup 2010 Qualification games Buy your football tickets for the Italian National Team matches now.
			Overall							Home						Away
RK		TEAM	P	W	D	L	GS	GA		W	D	L	GS	GA		W	D	L	GS	GA		GD	Points
	1.	Italy	9	6	3	0	15	5		3	1	0	7	2		3	2	0	8	3		10	21
	2.	Ireland	9	4	5	0	12	8		2	2	0	6	4		2	3	0	6	4		4	17
	3.	Bulgaria	9	2	5	2	11	11		2	2	0	7	2		0	3	2	4	9		0	11
	4.	Cyprus	9	2	3	4	12	13		2	1	2	10	8		0	2	2	2	5		-1	9
	5.	Montenegro	9	1	5	3	9	14		1	3	1	5	6		0	2	2	4	8		-5	8
	6.	Georgia	9	0	3	6	5	13		0	3	2	2	5		0	0	4	3	8		-8	3

1936 Italy Retro Tracktop


2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Europe Group 8

Republic of Ireland - Italy
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Croke Park
Dublin, Ireland
20:00

Referee: Terje HAUGE (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Steinar HOLVIK (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Frank ANDAS (NOR)
Fourth official: Espen BERNTSEN (NOR)

Attendance: 70,640

Scorers: 8' Glenn Whelan, 26' Mauro Camoranesi, 87' Sean St. Ledger, and 90' Alberto Gilardino

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Europe Group 8 Republic of Ireland - Italy Saturday, October 10, 2009 Croke Park Dublin, Ireland 20:00 Referee: Terje HAUGE (NOR) Match Stats
Ireland		Italy
2	Goals		2
9(6)	Shots (on Goal)		10(6)
20	Fouls		13
5	Corner Kicks		4
1	Offsides		4
47%	Ball Possession		53%
2	Yellow Cards		1
0	Red Cards		0
5	Saves		4

- Click here to watch LIVE online FIFA World Cup Qualifiers games.

What do you think of the result?  Are you surprised, disappointed?  Which players were the top and the flop?





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