Italy 1 Republic of Ireland 1

Stephen Hunt and his Republic of Ireland team-mates will relish the tag of underdogs as they head into tonight’s clash with world champions Italy.

How nice, I thought, they remembered.

Giovanni Trappatoni returned to Italy determined to play David to Marcello Lippi’s Goliath.

Italy boss Marcello Lippi will take nothing for granted as he sends his side into World Cup battle with Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland.

A spontaneous round of applause broke out as Giovanni Trapattoni took the stage back in his home country.

Luca Toni, Alberto Gilardino and Antonio di Natale are all missing for Italy but Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi still plans to still field an attacking line-up against the Republic of Ireland in Bari.

Andy Keogh is gearing himself up for one of the biggest tests of his career to date in Italy tomorrow night.

Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady handed manager Giovanni Trapattoni a boost today when he was able to complete light training ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup qualifying clash with holders Italy.

AFTER the disappointment of Saturday night’s draw with Bulgaria, Giovanni Trapattoni is expecting a positive reaction from his team when Ireland take on world champions Italy in Bari on Wednesday.

THOUSANDS of die-hard Irish soccer fans are hoping to rekindle the magic of Italia ‘90 for our crunch World Cup showdown with Italy this week.

Robbie Keane has admitted the Republic of Ireland would happily have settled for being seven points clear in second place in World Cup Group 8 at the halfway stage.

The Italian FA has confirmed that the World Cup 2010 qualifier between Italy and the Republic of Ireland on April 1st will take place in Bari at 20.50 local time (19.50 Irish time).

SCOTLAND manager Alex McLeish has urged his players to make history when they face world champions Italy in tonight’s crucial European Championship qualifier.

Celtic and Scotland were kept waiting last night after a meeting between Italian Football League representatives and state police officials ended without any announcement on whether stadiums in the country would be reopened.

CELTIC could face a trip to Switzerland next month after the Stade de Geneve was proposed as an alternative venue for their Champions League ‘away’ clash with AC Milan.

Celtic and the Scottish Football Association will today receive the verdict on whether next month’s crunch European clashes in Italy must be moved to new venues.