Rep. of Ireland vs Italy WC Qualifier

[Bangkokbob]

Group 8
Republic of Ireland vs. Italy

Former Italy manager and current Ireland gaffer Giovanni Trapattoni host his former team in an important fixture for both teams. If the Italians avoid defeat they secure a place for next year’s finals, while Ireland secure a play-off place and are only one point behind Italy if they win.

In Italy most talk is about why Antonio Cassano, perhaps the best Italian forward in the Serie A so far this season, is left out. Among the called up players, Juventus winger Marchisio is injured and ruled out.

Ireland and Trapattoni have some injuries as well as Damien Duff, Darron Gibson and Steven Reid as well as Caleb Folan all suffer injuries that stop them from playing on Saturday. Trapattoni's Ireland are still undefeated so far in the qualifiers and the Italian gentleman probably knows what moves to use against Italy.

All results are quite equally probable in this match, but the odds for a home look to be most appealing.

Calculated probabilities:
32% 32% 36%

Corresponds to following odds:
3.16 3.12 2.75


Dag Strandberg

[slick]

Some more thoughts in here Bob...
http://thedailypunt.com/forum/intern...h-october.html

There is an opinion that a draw would suit both sides and initially I thought no way the Irish don't play that way, not at Croke park anyhow when they still have a slim chance of winning the group, then i remembered Trapattoni is the Manager and an alarm bell sounded, maybe a point a piece would suit him? but I don't know enough about his mentality to cast an opinion on that.

Then you look at the fixture and think even if they go at it hammer and tongues for 90mins theres a good chance it will end in a draw and tell the truth the more i think about it a draw would be the result i would most likely plump for if i had to pick a result for this match.

[LaptopsEros]

Well Ireland were winning, its a draw atm (1-1).

Think Ireland can pull it off tbh, good luck to them.