AFP, Lille :
The Republic of Ireland can take inspiration from one of the finest moments in their footballing history as they face Italy in Euro 2016 on Wednesday.
Ireland come into their final game in Group E in Lille with a single point. They know that anything less than a win will end their hopes of reaching the knockout phase.
Italy have already clinched qualification for the last 16 as group winners, having won their opening two matches, a fact that could play into the hands of Martin O’Neill’s side as they attempt to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat to Belgium.
And it was inevitable that references would now be made to the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when the Irish famously beat Italy 1-0 thanks to a Ray Houghton strike to claim what remains their only competitive win over the Azzurri.
“It’s been done before. It’s not an impossible mission,” Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane said at the team’s base in Versailles, near Paris, when asked if he felt the memory of that game was relevant.
“We have beaten the Germans (in qualifying) in the last year. I appreciate the negativity in the last few days but this team has bounced back before and I’ve no doubt we’ll bounce back on Wednesday with a good performance.
“That doesn’t guarantee we’ll win but if our energy levels are higher, we cut out the individual mistakes, a few decisions go your way, then you’ve got a chance.”
Houghton, who was born in Scotland, recently told French sports daily L’Equipe that he has even fonder memories of scoring the only goal when Ireland beat England 1-0 at the 1988 Euros.
That remains Ireland’s only win in the European Championship finals, with their poor record since including a 2-0 loss to the Italians in their last group game of Euro 2012 in Poland.
– Italy changes –
Italy coach Antonio Conte — whose team beat Belgium 2-0 and Sweden 1-0 — should make sweeping changes to his starting XI with one eye on their last-16 tie against the Group D runners-up at the Stade de France next Monday.
One of those alterations is likely to see Salvatore Sirigu start in goal in place of veteran Gianluigi Buffon, who is one booking away from a suspension and has been struggling with illness.
