Result ITALY 0 - 2 IRELAND Goal by Keith Andrews Tuesday June 7 2011 - International Friendly
By Anna Italia
68% Ball Possession Italy and 32% Ball Possession Ireland
Italy 0 - 2 Ireland 
36' Keith Andrews
90' Simon Cox
A friendly defeat... a step back.... lesson learned?
No rush today for Italy. Head coach Cesare Prandelli will be testing players to prepare his steady team for the next EURO 2012 qualification game on September 3, 2011 against Estonia.
Let's put it this way... today it is a friendly get together with beloved Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni leading the Republic of Ireland against Italy head Coach Cesare Prandelli. Ireland
I am watching the game on RAI ITALIA. Fans overwhelmingly wearing Italian customs, flags, big hats, banners... awesome.. players are warming up while there is a closeup from Trapatoni-Prandelli.... awesome... wow, wow, wow, guys it started to rain .....
It's a testing period for Italy and our players should show their potential starting with Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano starting in the lineup.
Players making their entrance.. a big banner saying "the love for the Nazionale has no frontiers... from Italians in Belgium."
There is now the loud chant of the classic "po po po po po"
ITALY (4-3-1-2): Emiliano Viviano, Mattia Cassani, Alessandro Gamberini, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Nocerino, Riccardo Montolivo, Giuseppe Rossi, Giampaolo Pazzini.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2: Forde, McShane, St Ledger, O'Dea, Ward, Coleman, Andrews, Foley, Hunt, Keogh, Long.
Great... national anthems now... close up from our players singing L'Inno di Mameli... players shaking hands......
Ireland Captain Paul McShane ready with Italy captain Andrea Pirlo exchanging Scudetti.
In the 14th minute it is Ireland with a clear chance to score. Keogh to Long and she slips while goalkeeper Viviano alert following the action .. no challenge as the hall is wide....
In the 16th minute, a long range shot by Criscito though midfielder Antonio Nocerino is offside... good try...
In the19th minute, a handball by O'Dea from Ireland and free kick for Italy... Andrea Pirlo ... though it hits the back from Keogh.....
Guys, bad luck for defender Domenico Criscito looking injured.. and we might see the first forced substitution as Barzagli is warming up...
First yellow card of the match in the 23rd minute for Stephen Hunt after a foul on Andrea Pirlo.
Mama miaaaaaa helloooo guys.. in the 26th minute a super run from midfielder Claudio Marchisio to send the cross to Pazzini coming from the right side and when he was ready to shout the goal.. missing the final target.....
Criscito is still playing..... looks he will continue .....
Guys Italy are pressing and creating more goal opportunities.. thing is that we can't finalize the action to shout the goal....
Photo Reuters
Under the rain and not a complete fit Domenico Cristcito still battling and here marking Seamus Coleman.
Amazing.... another clear and present chance for Italy to score......
Close up from Sebastian Giovinco warming up, Alessandro Matri warming up and Angelo Palombo...
No way, no kidding... oh gosh.. guys, a foul from Alessandro Gamberini on Shane Long resulting in free kick for Ireland.. and guess what??? what!!! Well, out of the free kick there you go gooooooaaaalllllllllll Keith Andrews with a right footed shot blasting Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano in the bottom left corner while Italian fans increase their chants to root for Italy... Ireland players celebrating the goal....
Ireland 1 - 0 Italy:
Again? This one is either bad luck or wake up time...in the 41st minute Italy with a clear chance to score and nothing..... guys, Giuseppe Rossi passing to Mattia Cassani, then a low shot... Pazzini in the area and is offside...... Pazzini cannot believe his luck and neither do I.....
Reuters
Battling for the ball Andrea Pirlo and Andy Keogh.
Continue raining......
In the 44th minute a foul from Seamus on Antonio Nocerino... free kick.. oh gosh,,, Nocerino's right footed shot from outside the area is out of target to the right.....
Italy started well the first 10 minutes, slowly losing domain to Ireland ....
First half is over with 69% ball possession Italy and 31% ball possession Ireland.
A fan showing a sign saying "I Love Messina."
Photo Reuters
Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini... "Raindrops keep falling on my head".....
Let's see how it goes in the second half.... Prandelli making two substitutions in the 45th minute.
Andrea Pirlo out, Angelo Palombo in, Giuseppe Rossi out, Alessandro Matri in
Photo Getty Images
Italy and Inter forward Giampaolo Pazzini battling for the ball with Sean St Ledger.
Oh well,,,, in the 54th minute still no goals for Italy while Giampaolo Pazzini sends a pass to Alessandro Matri coning from the right side making a fast run only to miss his right footed shot to the left...
Prandelli making two substitutions in the 59th minute.
Giampaolo Pazzini out, Alberto Gilardino in
Pazzini leaving the pitch among the applause from the fans....
Antonio Nocerino out, Sebastian Giovinco in
zzzzz
zzz
In the 66th minute another move from Prandelli to change the score making a substitution in the defense.
Domenico Criscito out, Federico Balzaretti in
In the 75th minute Ireland with a substitution
Keogh out, Keith Treacy in
No luck guys... chances for Italy to draw and we are waving good bye each chance.....
In the 85th minute a right footed shot attempt by midfielder Riccardo Montolivo and ... well.. nothing.. just... no goals...
No way, no way, no kidding!!!!!!!! Wake up Italia... guys, in the 90th minute there is the second goal for Ireland!!!!!! Stephen Hunt coming from the left to make the pass to Simon Cox with a right footed shot from close range and this is his first goal with Ireland....
Italy 0 - 2 Ireland
Closeup from Prandelli certainly not with a happy gesture...
In the 94th minute Ireland with a substitution. Stephan Ward out, Damien Delaney in.
Fans are now whistling not liking the result.......
Two fans now into the pitch ... no violence just wanting to greet their players....
Referee whistles the end of the match and fans with whistles and boos for the Azzurri.. hello... not the expected result.... chances we had.... missing were the goals..... maybe they went on vacation?? It was a testing time for the so-called -second team.... hum?
Smiling face for Giovani Trapattoni.....
Ireland - ItalyTuesday June 7 2011
Time 20:45
Liege, Belgium Stade Maurice Dufrasne
International Friendly Game
Referee:
Attendance":
Scorers:
OFFICIAL FORMATIONS
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