Buffon banks on beating Ireland

Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon is hopeful that a win against the Republic of Ireland will be enough for his team to progress to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.

The Azzurri have drawn their opening two games against Spain and Croatia and are two points adrift of both sides heading into their last Group C clash with the Irish, who have no chance of progressing after back-to-back defeats.

Croatia’s second-half equaliser against the Italians yesterday means Cesare Prandelli’s team no longer control their own destiny.

If the match between Spain and Croatia finishes in a draw in which a total of at least four goals are scored in the game, a win on Monday for the Azzurri would not be enough to see them through to the last eight.

“Against Croatia, the performance was there and so was our will to win,” Buffon said. “In the first half we could have done better considering the chances we had to score, but we also have to take into account that we faced a strong side.

“We are disappointed with the draw. We played very well in defence despite conceding a goal. We paid the price for one of the few chances they created.

“We need to be more cynical. In games that are level, such as this one, we cannot give anything away.”

Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who scored against Croatia, is also upbeat about his side’s chances.

“We can still go far and this is by no means the end for us,” he said.

“We need to grow and improve as we didn’t play well in the second half against Croatia. We should have won this game but we will not let this result bring us down. We will go out with the intention of winning the next game.”

Pirlo does not want to consider the scenario of Italy winning and failing to progress.

“Combinations? Spain and Croatia are two top teams and I’m confident they will go out for the win,” he said.

Prandelli will be bolstered by the return of Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli, who missed the opening two games with a calf injury.

But Mario Balotelli could lose his place in Italy’s starting line-up against Ireland.

The striker has been substituted in both his country’s games so far and Prandelli said yesterday: “He has huge potential, but he needs to improve.”

“He needs to be more ruthless and pay more attention. These are the areas he needs to improve.”