Is it good Italy have nothing to play for?

Unusually Italy will be top of their Group even if Ireland beat them 10-0. That is because it is the result against Belgium which will decide who wins if they are equal on points. It is more usual for goal difference to be the main deciding criterion.

The Italy manager has already announced that he will give other members of his squad an outing. I think Ireland would prefer the first team as they would more genuinely have nothing to play for. The new blood will want to prove themselves.

In any case the bookies make the odds much closer than if it were a genuinely competitive match.

On balance it probably suits us. The manager wont be as psyched, ok the new blood are trying to make an impression, but if the margins are as small as everyone says, then your average Italian guy is not going to risk a potential leg breaker tackle when it doesnt matter. Or maybe will be a bit slower on lung bursting recovering runs.

Cant really see us winning it, but I'd hope for a more encouraging performance, caution to the wind and really have a go - which should be a no brainer since it is our only option.

I'm glad this thread is about football. Otherwise the title is a bit harsh on Italians.

With Spain losing to Croatia it gives even more reason to the Italians to save themselves for the massive next round match with the Spanish so really the scenario couldn't have worked out more favourably for the Irish going into this match. I'm still not very optimistic we can take advantage of that though....

Ceist Beag said:

I'm still not very optimistic we can take advantage of that though....

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But didn't we just, Ceist Beag.

What a night!

Look I enjoyed that goal as much as the rest of ye but can we please get a bit of perspective. George Hamilton hails this as the first time we reached the last 16 of Euros. It's the first time there has been a last 16

NI, Wales, Iceland similarly got there. True we were in the Group of Death but a tad lucky to be playing the Italy B team.

Aye, delighted my pessimism was unfounded, fair play to the lads, it was a great performance, full of heart, character and effort. Italy were even worse than I expected but who cares. I do agree with the Duke that there was a little bit of OTT euphoria from some (Tony O'Donoghue's classic comment to Brady after "this is a historic night for Irish sport, actually for Ireland".... the former absolutely but the latter, please!), but hey we always tend to go a bit overboard with these things so let's roll with it - now it's time to do it again against the French A team!

On a side note, you have to hand it to UEFA, increasing the competition to 24 and then allowing 16 to qualify was a master stroke - you have teams celebrating getting into the last 16 every bit as much as they celebrated qualifying for the Euros themselves! If they get knocked out in the next round it's still considered a huge success so most countries go home considering the finals a massive success, not a failure - genius really.

The Irish team's achievement is one of Ireland's greatest sporting moments because the populace rate it so. Last night's goal and win had a hundredfold more rapturous reception than all Katie Taylor's achievements put together.

But by any objective assessment, to achieve the same stage in an international competition as NI, Wales and Iceland is scarcely earth shattering.

This is getting ridiculous, 10 mins in and RTE Six One is still covering the Event. And Sharon Ni-whatever repeats the non statement that this was historic as it was the first time we reached the last 16. At least George amended the claim on Morning Ireland to "first time to reach the knock out stages".

Ceist Beag said:

If they get knocked out in the next round it's still considered a huge success so most countries go home considering the finals a massive success, not a failure - genius really.

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Absolutely!

It can give countries such a lift.

Did you hear the reaction of the Icelandic commentator?

My son, daughter-in-law and their two children are in France on their way to Lyon.

He was also in the ExCeL Arena in London in 2012 cheering on Katie.

Duke of Marmalade said:

And Sharon Ni-whatever

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You are such a charmer Duke.