So next we have
Croatia V Spain
Italy V Ireland
Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic was substituted against
Italy because of a knock and will be assessed.
The Croats began against Italy with a 4-4-2 formation, but switched to
4-2-3-1 at half-time to enable Luka Modric to play further forward.
If he keeps that role then Ivan Rakitic will drop deep to play alongside
holding midfielder Ognjen Vukojevic.
Spain's Sergio Busquets hurt his foot against Ireland, but a scan showed no
damage, and he has been passed fit.
Striker Fernando Torres is expected to keep his place after scoring twice
against the Irish.
Cesc Fabregas netted as a substitute in that match but with competition for
places fierce he may remain on the bench.
Croatia and Spain have bristled at conspiracy theorists who suggest the two
sides would settle for a 2-2 draw, a result that will take both teams into the
quarter-finals at Italy's expense. BBC
AND IRELAND
Mario Balotelli trained on Sunday despite limping
out of training 24 hours earlier with a knee injury but coach Cessare Prandelli
has suggested he may rest Balotelli regardless
Centre-back Andrea Barzagli is expected to feature despite missing the
opening two matches with a calf problem.
Damien Duff will captain Ireland on his 100th appearance for his country.
Striker Kevin Doyle starts at the expense of Simon Cox in manager Giovanni
Trapattoni's only change.
The Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 hopes may be over a little too
prematurely for everyone concerned but an encounter with Italy allows the
country to reminisce about past glories, to celebrate the coaching achievements
of boss Giovanni Trapattoni and is perhaps one final moment in the spotlight for
some of the country's old guard - although not Robbie Keane who has vowed to
play on.
It was exactly 18 years ago, 18th June 1994, that Ireland beat Italy for the
first time in their history courtesy of Ray Houghton's famous strike at the
World Cup finals. It's also a poignant date as six Catholic men were murdered by
gunmen whilst watching the match in Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland's
players will wear black armbands as a sign of respect to those who lost their
lives in the Loughinisland massacre.
Since 1994, the Irish have lost to Italy only once in four meetings since
then and become somewhat of a bogey side for their more illustrious opponents.
Their incentive this time around is knowing victory would see them finish above
the 2006 world champions in the final Group C standings.
The situation for Italy is eerily similar to that what confronted them ahead
of their final match for Euro 2004. No matter how big a win against the Irish, a
2-2 draw (or higher score draw) in the other group game between Spain and
Croatia will ensure the Italians head home early - this because head-to-head
records come into play when two or more countries finish level on points.
Italy's 1-1 draw with both nations would therefore be seen as the weaker result.
Sweden and Denmark conjured up a 2-2 draw eight years ago to end Italian hopes;
the Azzurri were managed by a certain Giovanni Trapattoni back then. Is he about
to watch the same fate unfold on his motherland again but this time from the
opposite dug-out?
Current Italian head coach Cessare Prandelli may have seamlessly guided his
country through qualifying as they remained unbeaten but they are the only side
at Euro 2012 who are yet to win a match this calendar year. Their last victory
was a 2-0 friendly win over Poland in Wroclaw last November but Italy have also
never recorded a competitive victory on Polish soil drawing all five games -
three against Poland in various qualifying competitions throughout the years and
obviously both Euro 2012 group matches to date.
Head-to-head This is the third meeting between the countries at a major tournament but
the first at a European Championship. Italy won their 1990 World Cup encounter
1-0, Ireland won by the same scoreline four years later at the 1994 World Cup.This fixture takes place on the 18-year anniversary of Ray Houghton's famous
winner for Ireland in their 1-0 win over Italy at the 1994 World Cup in New
York.Ireland are unbeaten in three matches against Italy under Giovanni
Trapattoni's management. They won a friendly 2-0 in the Belgian city of Liege
last summer, following on from back-to-back draws in qualifying for the 2010
World Cup.
Italy Italy have gone six games without a win at either the European Championship
or World Cup finals since beating France 2-0 in their final group stage match in
Euro 2008 - it's their longest ever major tournament winless streak.The Italians have won their final group game at the last three Euros
tournaments - 2-0 against France in 2008, 2-1 versus Bulgaria in 2004 and 2-1
against Sweden in 2000.Italy could become the first country to draw all three group matches in Euro
finals history.
Ireland Giovanni Trapattoni is looking to become the first man to coach a nation to
victory against his motherland at the European Championship since Guus Hiddink,
whose Russia side beat the Netherlands 3-1 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.Trapattoni has failed to progress from the group stages in both Euros he has
managed in, after also failing to advance with Italy in 2004.Damien Duff will win his 100th cap, becoming the fifth player to reach this
milestone for Ireland.
Observations from around GUILDFORD in SURREY and now Nottingham