Ireland take on Italy at the at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, in a must-win game for the Irish on matchday 11. Italy are already through to the knockout stages, registering 2 wins out of their 2 matches of UEFA Euro 2016 and the Irish will have to give it their all if they are to secure a third-place finish in their group.
Antonio Conte’s tactical masterclass helped Italy qualify for the knockout stages with a game in hand, and the new Chelsea manager will look to rest some of his players. The likes of Stephan El Shaarawy, Simone Zaza and Thiago Motta are likely to play a part in this match, while Italian captain, Gianluigi Buffon, will miss the match due to high fever.
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Ireland has to win this match if they are to secure a place in the last 16. They need to look out for the result of the Belgium vs Sweden match, but most importantly, they have to find a way to beat an impressive Italian side. Their -3 goal difference will make life harder for them.
1) Lorenzo Insigne
The 25-year-old Italian is probable to start today, as Conte will look to rest a few players, and test their bench strength. The winger from Napoli can play on either of the flanks, and also as a forward, but is usually deployed at left wing. Insigne is known to be creative, pacey and his technical abilities will pose a threat to the Irish goal.
With 13 goals and 11 assists in the 2015-16 Serie A season, Insigne impressed everyone at Napoli, and will look to do the same for his country. The Irish defense will have their work cut out against the Italian, but the experience of O’Shea will be crucial in negating his threat.
Insigne has made 15 appearances for the Azzurri’s, scoring 7 goals. With Conte expected to rest a few of his players, Insigne will have a huge impact on the outcome of the match, with Italy looking to make it 3 wins out of 3.
2) Thiago Motta
The 33-year-old PSG midfielder is expected to start the match, and will be key in the midfield battle against the likes of McCarthy and Whelan. The Brazil-born midfielder will look to anchor Italy’s midfield and set up attacks for the forwards. Motta will be key against the Irish attacks, too as he is a good reader of the game and can make some important interventions.
Motta started off his football career at FC Barcelona, at age 17, but was injury-prone and he failed to make a big impact on the Spanish club. He did not have as good a season as he would have liked for PSG in Ligue 1, scoring only 1 goal and providing 1 assist, but all will be forgotten if he can come good for his country in UEFA Euro 2016.
Motta is hailed for his vision and the ability to pick out his team-mates, and he would be looking to set up goals for the forwards. He is also very solid in defence, and will be absolutely crucial for the Italians. His all-round ability on the football pitch makes him a player to watch out for.
3) Shane Long
The 29-year-old Southampton forward will lead Ireland’s attacking line, and will be absolutely vital for them if they are to win. With 13 goals and 4 assists for his club in the 2015-16 season, Long will look to carry on his good form against the Azzurri’s.
This is a match where Ireland has to score and Long will look to threaten the Italian defense on a consistent basis.
The Irishman had an impressive season with the Saints, leading them to 6th place in the Barclays Premier League table. His experience of playing at the highest level of English football will be important in this high-pressure match for the Irish.
Long is strong in the air and the Irish players will look to play balls into the box for him to attack. Along with his attacking abilities, he works hard and looks to win back the ball for his team. With Long’s knack of scoring important goals and a good season behind him, he will be a key man for Martin O’Neill’s men.
4) John O’Shea
The former Manchester United man will be vital for the Irish defence against a very strong Italian attack. The Republic of Ireland captain will look to lead from the front, and put up an inspiring performance against the Azzurri’s to guide his team to the knockout stages.
However, his work will not be easy as he will come up against pacey Italian forwards like Insigne and El Shaarawy. Along with Clark at the heart of the Irish defence, O’Shea will have to put up a good performance, and prevent the Italians from scoring. The Sunderland man has a lot of experience playing at the highest level of English football for decades now, which will be vital in this high-pressure match for the Irish.
5) Stephan El Shaarawy
The 23-year-old forward from AC Milan (on loan at Roma) is considered as one of the most up-and-coming and promising footballers of this generation. He is a very hard-working player and looks to help the defence out as much as he can. El Shaarawy generally plays as a left winger, but also plays as a striker or attacking midfielder.
Nicknamed “The Pharaoh” for his Egyptian connections, Shaarawy will look to live up to the expectation and put in a strong performance against the Irish. His pace, dribbling ability and technical skills make him a dangerous player for any opposition, and Ireland have to do their homework on this talented youngster.
Shaarawy’s playing style is a lot like that of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, and if he can perform half as well as these superstars, Conte will be pleased with his performance.
