Italy make it hot in ‘warm-up’

Tony Leen

They did it all the same, and in relative comfort.

Better, of course, to lose in August to Italy, than in September to France, but in terms of warning signs, where would you like to start? Remembering that the Serie A season does not begin until August 28th, it was somewhat disconcerting to watch the Italians unstitch and unhinge Ireland's befuddled defence in the opening half-hour.