De Rossi anticipating intense atmosphere

ITALY must brace themselves for intense Celtic passion on and off the field when they meet the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, midfielder Daniele De Rossi has said.

The world champions need just a point this weekend to qualify for the World Cup as Group 8 winners, but the Roma player believes this will not be easy given the reception that awaits at Croke Park.

“Five days ago they told me the stadium had already sold out. The atmosphere in Ireland will be similar to Scotland,” De Rossi, a member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad, told a news conference yesterday.