So the Italians will rest their star performers on Wednesday to afford Ireland an easy ride to joining them in the knockout stages of Euro 2016? Well, think again.

There were three veterans of Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph missing when the team met up at the Coverciano training centre in Florence yesterday to prepare for matches against Spain and Germany.

European champions Barcelona saw their perfect start to the season ended after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Wednesday’s Champions League Group E opener.

Steven Gerrard’s forthcoming move to LA Galaxy means he will fail to join an illustrious band of professional footballers who have spent their entire senior careers at one club.

Roma 0 Manchester city 2

Champions League Group E

The crisis in Italian football is a bit like climate change.

Republic of Ireland 0 Italy 0

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had three new faces in the Anfield directors’ box as he watched his side beat Manchester United at Anfield yesterday.

Jose Mourinho says it took him “five minutes” of a meeting with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to agree a return to Stamford Bridge after six years away.

Jose Mourinho feels he returns to Chelsea as much a fan as he does the club’s eighth manager since he left in 2007.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini faces losing Gareth Barry to suspension after the defensive midfielder was charged by the Football Association.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists Mario Balotelli is not for sale, despite his stern words for the striker after Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli hopes Daniele De Rossi learns a valuable lesson after dropping the Roma midfielder from his 25-man squad to face France tomorrow night.

A question mark hung over Craig Levein’s future as Scotland manager after last night’s 2-0 defeat to Belgium all but extinguished their hopes of resurrecting their World Cup qualifying Group A campaign.

Chris Coleman earned his first win as Wales manager as a double from Gareth Bale secured all three points in a 2-1 win over Scotland.

Marco Reus and Toni Kroos both helped themselves to two goals apiece as Germany made an emphatic statement of intent in World Cup Qualifying Group C with a 6-1 rout of Ireland in Dublin.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini claims it is “impossible” for injured striker Sergio Aguero to play for Argentina next month and “ridiculous” he has been called up.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes that with the acquisition of Robin van Persie, Manchester United now boast the best strikeforce in world football.

Manager Roberto Mancini has made the astonishing claim that Manchester City should be regarded as low as fourth favourites for the Premier League this season.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has re-opened his transfer feud with the Blues sporting director Brian Marwood.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has expressed his frustration at the lack of transfer activity at the Blues this season – once again pinning the blame on sporting director Brian Marwood.

Manchester City warmed up for next weekend’s Community Shield against Chelsea with a straightforward win over Limerick FC at Thomond Park last night.

Match of the Century, they called it. There’s even a plaque on the wall of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to commemorate the delirious 4-3 win that sent Italy through to the final of the 1970 World Cup at the expense of West Germany.

Germany may increasingly represent the future of international football, but the current message is all too clear: they feel they’re finally ready to rule the present.

It was, as Edmund Blackadder would say, the worst mistake since the Vikings ordered 80,000 battle helmets with the horns on the inside.

Fewer than than 24 hours have passed since Italy’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over England sealed their placed in the Euro 2012 semi-finals, but coach Cesare Prandelli has told his players to “turn the page”.

Roy Hodgson insists no amount of practice can prepare you for the trauma of a penalty shoot-out.

Italy are deservedly through to the semi-final of the European Championship after a dramatic penalty shoot-out, and how they celebrated after this captivating quarter-final in Kiev.

England 0 Italy 0 (Italy won 4-2 on penalties)

Italy striker Mario Balotelli delivered a typically bizarre performance as he addressed the media on the eve of the Euro 2012 quarter-final with England, claiming he was “more of a man than Peter Pan.”

Spain may have wowed the world over the last four years with their stylish passing football, but they would not be defending European, or World Cup, champions without [the interventions of keeper Iker Casillas.

’Why always me?’ When Mario Balotelli lifted his jersey to reveal that famous T-shirt during Manchester City’s 6-1 win at Old Trafford, he all but wrote his own epitaph.

Daniele De Rossi has admitted he is attracted by the Premier League ahead of Italy's European Championship clash with England.

As the dust settles on Ireland’s European championship flop Miguel Delaney looks at the successes and failures in Poland and where Giovanni Trapattoni can go from here.

Italy 2 Republic of Ireland 0

Cesare Prandelli has admitted his surprise that the Republic of Ireland will not be fighting for Euro 2012 qualification tonight.

Cesare Prandelli has no difficulty with criticism after a game.

Cesare Prandelli has only one decision to make for tonight’s Group C duel with Croatia: does he stick with the front two he picked against Spain or should he give Antonio Di Natale a start?