China and Italy to visit for friendlies

The Football Association of Ireland has announced two friendlies against China and Italy for this year.

China will visit Lansdowne Road for the first time on Tuesday March 29 while Italy travel to Dublin on August 17 for the first clash between the two nations since Ireland beat Italy in the 1994 World Cup finals.

Ireland manager Brian Kerr said: “China have made great progress over the last few years and will provide difficult opposition. We all witnessed the performances of the Asian teams in the last World Cup and China play a similar type of football.”

“Italy make a welcome return to Dublin. They are one of the great traditional powers in the world and will be a massive attraction. The game will be ideal preparation for the three important World Cup Qualifiers against Cyprus, France and Switzerland in the autumn."

The clash between Ireland and China takes place three days after Ireland's clash with Israel in Tel Aviv and Kerr is hoping to fly back to Israel immediately after the game to watch Israel's clash with France on Wednesday March 30.