I had several heart attacks this morning. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/panicsmiley2.gif)

http://www.football-italia.net/italy/ire-ita.html

Rep Ireland 2-2 Italy
Whelan 7 ®, Camoranesi 26 (I), St Ledger 86 ®, Gilardino 89 (I)
Croke Park, Dublin


Alberto Gilardino's last gasp equaliser sealed Italy's place in South Africa, as they twice fought back against the Republic of Ireland.

This was a head-to-head at the top of the Group and the Azzurri (tonight playing in white) needed only a point to be sure of qualification. Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland also required only a draw to lock down a play-off spot after Bulgaria's 4-1 defeat in Cyprus earlier this evening.

Fabio Cannavaro was suspended and Claudio Marchisio underwent knee surgery this morning, so Nicola Legrottaglie stepped into the defence, while Antonio Di Natale, Mauro Camoranesi and an advanced Andrea Pirlo supported lone striker Vincenzo Iaquinta. Giuseppe Rossi and Davide Santon were in the stands. Ireland had Damien Duff, Darron Gibson and Steven Reid injured, so gave Liam Lawrence his first competitive start.

Both teams were unbeaten in Group 8 and had drawn 1-1 when they met in Bari on April 1, although Giampaolo Pazzini was very harshly sent off just three minutes in. There was a minute's silence before kick-off for the dozens who died in recent floods in Messina.

Italy had played here three times before and won every game 2-1 in 1971, 1985 and 2005.

Ireland opened the scoring with their first chance. Legrottaglie mistimed his tackle on Robbie Keane down the right flank and the Lawrence free kick was rolled back to outside the D where Glenn Whelan smashed it into the near top corner.

Another Lawrence free kick, this time from the other wing, was flapped away with some difficulty by Gigi Buffon. Fabio Grosso fired a free kick into the defensive wall. Grosso then got down the left and skipped back past Lawrence only for Daniele De Rossi to scuff the finish. McGeady went on a rapid counter before he was eventually closed down.

Grosso took matters into his own hands with a splendid volley that Shay Given smothered with his chest. Moments later Di Natale caused panic in the Irish box.

From that corner Pirlo curled the ball in for Mauro Camoranesi's header from six yards as Italy equalised. Given, on his 99th cap, got his hands to it, but the header was just too powerful and squirmed in at the near post.

Whelan was first into the book for a tackle from behind on Angelo Palombo and will be suspended for the game against Montenegro. Iaquinta was flagged offside by centimetres when one-on-one with Given and another Pirlo corner, this time to the back post for Legrottaglie, was nodded wide.

Keane's acrobatic overhead kick was wide after fine work from Aiden McGeady, while Pirlo rather ambitiously hit a free kick straight at goal from 45 yards.

Italy thought they had gone 2-1 up within 90 seconds of the restart. Pirlo's free kick was flicked off Chiellini's head for Iaquinta to get a final touch, but the Juventus man was marginally offside and so the goal was disallowed.

An Irish free kick found John O'Shea totally unmarked, but his weak looping header was easy prey for Buffon. Ireland won a free kick outside the D, but Lawrence hit it at the wall and Andrews ballooned the follow-up over. Meanwhile, Trapattoni was spotted clutching his famous bottle of holy water on the touchline.

It took body blocks from both Legrottaglie and Chiellini to close down Keane for a corner. Lawrence whipped it in for Dunne's header straight at Buffon. Moments later Italy nearly scored a second, as Iaquinta lobbed it back from the byline for O'Shea to anticipate a totally unmarked Di Natale.

Iaquinta at full stretch couldn't get control of a smart Di Natale ball over the top and Pirlo's strike was charged down, then De Rossi was booked for a tug on McGeady. Trap made two changes, introducing Leon Best and Martin Rowlands.

Zambrotta cut in from the right and smashed a powerful angled drive that Given pushed round the base of the near post. De Rossi drilled wide from distance before Alberto Gilardino and Salvatore Bocchetti replaced Di Natale and Grosso. It was the senior Italy debut for the 22-year-old Genoa defender and pushed Iaquinta wide left.

O'Shea was again decisive when intercepting a Camoranesi cross for the head of Iaquinta. Trapattoni's final substitution saw Stephen Hunt replace McGeady.

Iaquinta blasted over at the end of a good passing move, as Italy were keeping the ball comfortably now. Best went into the book for a late sliding tackle on De Rossi and a Pirlo set piece flashed across the face of goal.

However, Ireland scored against the run of play. Hunt earned a free kick down the left and whipped it into the six-yard box for a diving St Ledger header at the back post. Gilardino should've cut out the cross, but was late, while Trapattoni had waved the defender forward for this kick.

Marcello Lippi was unbeaten since 2004 in Slovenia and threw on Simone Pepe for Palombo. It worked wonders! Italy equalised within 60 seconds! Pepe charged on the counter and passed low for Iaquinta, who rolled across for Gilardino at full stretch to side-foot in from eight yards, sending Given the wrong way.

Republic of Ireland: Given; O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan (Rowlands 70), McGeady (Hunt 78); Keane, Doyle (Best 67)

Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso (Bocchetti 76); De Rossi, Palombo (Pepe 89); Camoranesi, Pirlo, Di Natale (Gilardino 76); Iaquinta

Ref: Hauge (Nor)

Let's never play any matches at the San Siro. It seems to work.

FORZA MILAN!

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

Frankly we are paying the price for our off season ennui. Our performance in Serie A should come as no surprise to anyone & lets face it if Carlo hadn't have won the UCL he would find himself on the unemployment queue by now.

I don't know about this. I mean why did we buy Ronaldo then? Although Ronaldo is injured at the moment by the time next season starts he will be good to go & he has proved already that he can score goals regulary. I don't know about bringing Sheva back, it's like asking an ex-girlfriend back, it may be good for a while then if things don't turn out you turn on each other nastily & I can see that happening here between the club, the fans & even Sheva himself.
Let's just leave the past alone, it was good while it lasted & just because he's not working out for CFC means that if he comes back here he is going to bang goals for in again like nothing had happened.
Well I hope i'm wrong.....

As soon as Maldini & Gattuso went off Man Spew ran riot through our midfield, they pressured us constantly & we gave up possession needlessly so many times I lost count.
That last goal by Rooney, although it was good strike, should have really been covered by Dida, considering where Rooney was Dida should have positioned himself more towards the inside post. I think it's 50/50 in my mind whether it was necessary for Dida to come out for the first goal.
Gilardino, did you play at all? Were you on the field?
Thank God for Kaka. Although i'm personally getting a bit tired of him having to win games on his own without a Sheva like striker to support him. Lets face Gila does not cut it at this level.

I lived there from 96-01 then spent three years in London & came back home to Sydney in late 04. So I guess the operative term is 'did' live in Milan. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Bruno Conti was a very brutal Italian defender. Maybe he wants to take him out of the game. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

As for the question at the top of the thread i'm less worried about this game than I was this morning for the game against BM. The pressure is ALL on Man Spew. We are just the understrength, underated Milan remember. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

MI-LAN MI-LAN MI-LAN

Smash those Inter scum.

Sunday 3:00pm Italian time.

MI-LAN MI-LAN MI-LAN

Cassano has the emotional stability of a 5 year old & throws about as many tantrums. His history is littered with such incidents, first hes upset in Roma nows hes upset in Madrid. Who wants a hard to handle petulant little boy in the team? I seriously doubt Milan is that silly to consider him anyway.

As for Montella, I wouldnt mind him personally but it aint gonna happen.

I'm glad Gilardino got a goal.
It will wonders for his confidence.
Bout time we had some good news.

FORZA MILAN!!!!!!

Sheva will come back on the 12th of Never.

Vieri is a mercenary & a club whore, just like Ronaldo. Mmmm both Inter players. Can't be coincidence.

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)