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SOCCER/Republic of Ireland 1 Italy 2: If they're treated to a game like this when the French come to town in a couple of weeks' time the crowd at Lansdowne Road will at least have had value for their admission money. Whether they have anything to shout about at the end is an altogether different matter, however, for the home side's performance will need a good deal of fine-tuning before the World Cup qualifier on September 7th, writes Emmet Malone at Lansdowne Road
With such a huge game around the corner this was not, perhaps, the ideal time for the Republic to lose its first home game under Brian Kerr, but there were times during the first half when the Italians would been more than a match for the world's very best defences, and on the evidence of this Ireland fall well short in that department.
Marcello Lippi's side were impressive in every area of the field but, like the Irish, they were at their best in the first half when they simply over-ran their hosts as Alessandro Del Piero marked his return to the national team with a whirlwind 45 minutes, Christian Vieri ran riot despite the best efforts of Ireland's central defenders and Andrea Pirlo pulled the strings from an advanced position in midfield.
Against a team favouring a three-man attack, Kerr opted to play with an extra player in midfield, Steven Reid joining Kevin Kilbane and Matt Holland in the centre while Clinton Morrison was left to battle Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro up front by himself.
The results early on were mixed with Morrison doing well enough under considerable pressure, but the Italians were finding a lot of space in which to work in midfield while in attack their close control and powerful running from around the edge of the area caused endless trouble. As early as the first minute Vieri went close for the visitors when he briefly lost his marker inside the area but rushed his shot and 90 seconds later he was put clean through on Shay Given only to squander the opportunity.
The ease with which the Italians seemed capable of opening up the Irish back four, though, was alarming and while there was the odd chance at the other end, it was no great surprise when the Italians opened the scoring just short of 11 minutes. The goal came from a corner flicked on by Gianluca Zambrotta for Alberto Gilardino who looked to have turned the ball over the line from a couple of yards.
Given, though, somehow hauled the ball back and forced it away, with the help of a touch from Kilbane, only to be left stranded as Pirlo buried his follow-up shot into the roof of the net. Moments later Kilbane went close to grabbing an equaliser after Morrison held off Nesta but the shot was easily saved by Flavio Roma.
It was apparent, even by this stage, that this was going to be one of the best friendlies witnessed at Lansdowne Road in recent times and Vieri almost graced a good night with a great goal just before the half hour. Nesta picked him out with a brilliantly judged long pass forward and the 32-year-old sent a first time shot crashing off the crossbar. Given must have been relieved to see the ball bounce away as it would have been a strike to adorn any friendly.
Two minutes later it was 2-0, Daniele De Rossi this time slipping a low ball from the left towards the edge of the area where Gilardino produced a wonderful turn and cleverly improvised finish after Given had raced out to block his first attempt on goal.
By now, however, the Irish were rising to the occasion themselves when going forward with Morrison, Damien Duff and Andy Reid linking up exceptionally well at times while there was strong support from John O'Shea, Kilbane and Steven Reid.
It was Morrison's cross that led to the goal some 60 seconds after the Italians had doubled their lead but Andy Reid must have been surprised to see Cristian Zaccardo make a hash of his attempted clearance before he stepped up to slot the loose ball out of Roma's reach and into the bottom right corner.
As is usually the case the second half suffered from the impact of the subs but Ireland chased the game relentlessly while the Italians, with several of their best players departed, were determined to hold on for their win. Late on Stephen Elliott twice went close to grabbing an equaliser with one effort drawing a quite stunning reaction save from Roma while three minutes into injury Clinton Morrison had a goal disallowed for what was a clear handball as he held off Andrea Barzagli. However, his confident finish was a good note to finish on.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Given (Newcastle Utd); Finnan (Liverpool), Dunne (Manchester City), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Shea (Manchester United); A Reid (Tottenham), S Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Holland (Charlton Ath), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea); Morrison (Birmingham City). Subs: Harte (Levante) for Holland (39 mins), O'Brien (Portsmouth) for Dunne (half-time), Carr (Newcastle Utd) for Finnan (57 mins), Elliott (Sunderland) for Reid (73 mins), Miller (Manchester Utd) for O'Shea (78 mins).
ITALY: Roma; Zaccardo, Nesta, Canavaro, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Pirlo, De Rossi; Vieri, Gilardino, Del Piero. Subs: Toni for Nesta, Diana for Del Piero, Grosso for De Rossi, Iaquinta for Gilardino (all half-time), Barzagli for Cannavaro (63 mins), Barone for Pirlo (76 mins).
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