Euro 2012 will be Giovanni Trapattoni’s third time to lead a team at the finals of a major international competition. Paul Kelly looks at the campaigns in which his under-achieving Italy recorded two wins, three draws and two defeats.

Given the extent of globalisation in football these days, distinct national traits are increasingly hard to define.

How, you ask, did one of The White Stripes’ singles first become an Italian football chant — and then be omnipresent in games across the globe?

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard came to his side’s aid once again as his late hat-trick inspired the side to a Europa League victory against Napoli which highlighted the gulf in class within the squad.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas says he is impressed by the approach of new coach Jose Mourinho ahead of their Primera Division campaign.

OUTGOING captain Fabio Cannavaro insists changes are needed in Italian football or the team could face a lengthy wait before regaining the World Cup.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi is remaining calm ahead of his team’s final World Cup Group F match against Slovakia today.

NEW ZEALAND coach Ricki Herbert was ecstatic last night after world champions Italy were saved from humiliation against his team of minnows only by a controversial penalty.

Italy 1 New Zealand 1

DEFENDING champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a draw in their World Cup Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town last night.

Italy 1 Paraguay 1

Defending UAE League champions Al Ahli have announced the shock signing of Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro on a two-year deal.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has announced he will retire from the national team after the World Cup.

CRAVEN COTTAGE hasn’t been known for its thrilling nights of European football – not until now, that is.

Fulham 4 Juventus 1 (Agg: 5-4)

FULHAM’S hopes of a fairytale place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League were left hanging by a thread last night as European heavyweights Juventus outclassed Roy Hodgson’s side at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juventus 3 Fulham 1

WITH his Italian side top of Group 8, and needing just one point from their last two games to secure qualification for next year’s World Cup finals, you would think Marcello Lippi would be full of the joys of life right now. You would be wrong.

Italy boss Marcello Lippi tonight insisted the Fabio Cannavaro saga was at an end.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi gave few clues about his line-up for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni insisted today that the Fabio Cannavaro controversy would have no impact on Marcello Lippi’s preparations for tomorrow night’s game.

Fabio Cannavaro is to join the Italy squad in Coverciano as originally planned on Sunday despite being under the cloud of drug test controversy.

ITALIAN captain Fabio Cannavaro has failed a doping test.

ITALY must brace themselves for intense Celtic passion on and off the field when they meet the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, midfielder Daniele De Rossi has said.

LIAM BRADY has made it clear that he is keen to stay on as assistant manager to Giovanni Trapattoni for the next two years but says that the decision will ultimately be up to his employers at Arsenal, where the former Gunner and Irish international heads up the club’s youth academy.

ITALY made their reservations for the World Cup finals in South Africa last night after a dramatically improved performance against Bulgaria in Turin.

Andrea Pirlo has kept his place in the team for Italy's World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria tonight.

ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has offered exiled star Antonio Cassano some hope in making it into Marcelo Lippi’s squad for next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

Real Madrid captain Raul insists their Peace Cup semi-final defeat to Juventus is no cause for alarm and remains confident next season will be a successful one for the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini admits his side‘s defending from set-pieces is a concern after Juventus inflicted a first defeat of pre-season on the big-spending Spanish giants.

MOHAMED HOMOS scored the only goal as Egypt claimed a memorable Confederations Cup victory over Italy in Johannesburg last night.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington hailed the strength of his side’s Italian opponents after slumping to a comprehensive 3-0 loss in Pisa last night.

Real Madrid 0 Liverpool 1

Steven Gerrard has been named on the Liverpool bench for tonight’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has all-but written off Real Madrid’s chances of winning this season’s Champions League.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has all-but written off Real Madrid’s chances of winning this season’s Champions League.

Fabio Cannavaro has called on Real Madrid to “play smart” in their Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool.

Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro insists he wants to remain at the Bernabeu, claiming his first priority is to extend his contract.

WORLD champions Italy shared the honours with Greece after a low-key encounter in Athens ended in a draw between the two European rivals.

CHELSEA lead the way in England in nominations for the FIFPro World XI Players Awards, just one behind Barcelona, despite neither side winning the Champions League.

JUVENTUS produced a stunning rearguard action to hold on for a famous 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League to take control of Group H.

IN these troubled times it’s gratifying to know that Italy’s coach reads the Irish Examiner.

Bulgaria 0 Italy 0

OH to be a fly on the wall the next time the Italian football team assemble for a game, following comments from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s wife about how attractive her husband’s teammates are.