Italy boss wary of falling into Irish Trap

Eighteen minutes had elapsed of last night’s Italian pre-match press conference before the conversation turned to tonight’s opponents.

Proof, if it were needed, of how low Ireland’s stock has fallen here in the last week.

Of course, Giovanni Trapattoni merited mention before that, but his team didn’t. Yet, when Cesare Prandelli was finally asked about the Republic of Ireland, he warned it would be remiss not to be wary of a side that will approach the fixture unburdened by pressures or expectations and thus able to swing from the hip, so to speak.