Euro 2012 Opta Stats: Italy v Republic of Ireland

Match odds
Over/Under 2.5 goals
Correct Score

Italy will be eliminated if they fail to win this match.

These sides have met twice before in major tournaments, picking up one victory apiece; Italy had the better on home soil at World Cup 1990, Ireland got their revenge by the same scoreline in 1994 in the USA.

That win at USA 1994 remains Ireland's only competitive victory over Italy, with the Boys in Green losing three and drawing two of their other five meetings against the Azzurri.

However, the Italians have won just one of their last five meetings against Ireland (L2 D2).

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni was in charge of Italy at World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004.

Italy are winless in six consecutive games in major tournaments for the first time in their history (five draws, one defeat).

This is the second time that the Azzurri have drawn their first two games in the group stage at a European Championship: on the other occasion (2004) they were eliminated despite winning the third game.

Republic of Ireland have lost each of their last three European Championship games, conceding eight goals in the process.

Italy have won just one of their last five Euro games in which they scored the first goal of the match.
Four of Italy's last five goals at the Euros have come from set-pieces.

Antonio Cassano is the only outfield player to have featured in all nine of Italy's Euro matches since the 2004 edition.

The Azzurri remain unbeaten in competitive games under Cesare Prandelli when Antonio Cassano has played: 12 games, eight wins and four draws.