Juventus 3 Fulham 1

FOUR months after Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand of Gaul’ ended Ireland’s World Cup dreams, France return to international action against Spain tonight (8pm) with a recall for another enfant terrible.

Italy 0 Holland 0

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI called back his wide men for some extra tuition at the end of training in Malahide yesterday, Damien Duff, Aiden McGeady, Stephen Hunt and Liam Lawrence gathering around their manager in the centre circle while the rest of the squad made their way to the bus.

Republic of Ireland 2 Italy 2

WHEN an Italian journalist in Malahide began asking a question about an Irish newspaper competition which, beneath the tag-line ‘Trap’s Golden Ticket’, offered a prize of tickets to the World Cup finals in South Africa, the natives present naturally assumed that they were about to be accused of being, shall we say, a tad presumptuous.

Liam Lawrence has been named in the starting line-up for tomorrow night's crucial World Cup qualifier against Italy at Croke Park.

THE threat posed by Italy’s marauding full-back Fabio Grosso is one of the reasons why Liam Lawrence appears poised for a starting place for Ireland at Croke Park tomorrow night.

ITALY will need to display character to handle the problems the Republic of Ireland will inevitably cause them in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier at Croke Park, Gianluigi Buffon said last night.

Italian World Cup winner Marco Tardelli will have no qualms about denting his native country’s defence of their title in Dublin on Saturday evening.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has named a 24-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers away to the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and at home to Cyprus four days later.

Juventus 1 Bordeaux 1

Italy 2 Bulgaria 0

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has called tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria the "most important" game since his return to the helm of the Azzurri.

Andrea Dossena’s wish to play at Juventus next season may not come true, according to the player’s agent.

Juventus have yet to make a decision on whether to sign Liverpool left-back Andrea Dossena, according to the player’s agent.

Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington handed out four new caps in his starting XI with Chris Casement, Colin Coates, Corry Evans and Stephen Carter all lining up for the first time in a largely inexperienced team to face Italy.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has admitted he will be keeping an ear out for events in Slovakia tonight while his young side face the ultimate of tests against World Champions Italy in Pisa.

Italy coach Marcelo Lippi will give young Inter Milan defender Davide Santon his senior international debut against Northern Ireland tomorrow night after admitting to being impressed with him in training.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has called up eight uncapped players for the friendly against Northern Ireland on June 6.

Robbie Keane saluted his Republic of Ireland team-mates after snatching a vital late equaliser to deny world champions Italy victory.

Italy 1 Republic of Ireland 1

Half time: Italy 1 Republic of Ireland 0

Montenegro 0 Italy 2

ITALY and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has said his team would be wrong to underestimate Montenegro and focus on the top-of-the-group showdown against Ireland next week.

THIERRY Henry earned Barcelona a draw on his return to France with a second-half equaliser against Lyon in a thrilling Champions League last-16 first leg at the Stade Gerland last night.

LYON coach Claude Puel has labelled Barcelona “the best team in the world” ahead of tonight’s match between the two sides in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Brazil 2 Italy 0

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi will give former Manchester United starlet Giuseppe Rossi his first senior start in tonight’s international friendly against Greece in Athens.

IN A press conference room just off the hallowed marble halls of the Vassil Levski Stadium, the thin-faced Plamen Markov yesterday pondered the past and future roles of Italian football in his career as Bulgarian coach.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi has left out veteran striker Alessandro Del Piero from his 23-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Ireland’s group against Bulgaria and Montenegro.

ITALY hero Daniele De Rossi paid an emotional tribute to his late father-in-law after the Azzurri’s 2-0 win over Georgia on Wednesday night.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi admits the Azzurri need to raise their game after only scraping past Cyprus in their opening World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

TRAP or Capello? As far as the Italians are concerned it’s no contest after Saturday’s opening World Cup qualifiers – the only question is the amount of egg there will be on Fabio’s face in Zagreb.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi admitted his side were lucky after an injury-time winner secured them a 2-1 victory in Cyprus in their opening World Cup qualifier on Saturday night.

Italy 2 Cyprus 1

Spain 0 Italy 0 (Spain win 4-2 on penalties)

France 0 Italy 2

Italy 1 Romania 1

Holland 3 Italy 0

Lyon 1 Manchester United 1

Rangers 0 Lyon 3

Italy 3 Faroe Islands 1

Christian Panucci insists Italy will prove why they are world champions when they run out at Hampden for their crunch Euro 2008 clash with Scotland this evening.