THE pity for Ireland was that Armenia had done Giovanni Trapattoni a huge favour earlier yesterday in Yerevan by claiming their first Euro 2012 Group B win over our group rivals Slovakia.

NETHERLANDS coach Bert van Marwijk yesterday played down striker Robin van Persie’s petulant reaction to being substituted during his side’s 2-1 win over Slovakia.

Slovakia 3 Italy 2

NORTHERN IRELAND have only one chance remaining of making it to the World Cup finals after this setback at a stunned Windsor Park.

Burnley striker Martin Paterson has been drafted into the Northern Ireland starting line-up for their crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia at Windsor Park tonight.