by Brendan Cole
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90 mins (+2) Ireland will have one last shy but Given's long ball is headed out. Italy hit one next and Lawrence gives away a free.
Pirlo declines to cross the ball into the box, tapping it to the man alongside and the ref blows up.
Ireland are gutted by that - the Italians are ecstatic.
What an incredible finish - the point means Ireland are guaranteed their place in the play-offs but this would have a fantastic result in and of itself.
Bravo Ireland, and Trap.......and hard luck.
90 mins Ireland launch a long ball into the box but it is headed out and Italy are back in control. They press forward but are pressed and the ball runs to Given.
89 mins A goal for Italy. Counter attack ball was worked down the right to Iaquinta who fed Gilardino in the box and his calm finishes rolled past Given.
Gutting for Ireland.
88 mins Ireland get ball in the Italian half and win a throw when Hunt is tackled. They aim the throw at the corner flag but Italy are suddenly on the counter.
87 mins Italy have it in the Irish half but a cross is headed out and the next ball out runs harmlessly over the endline.
86 mins GOAL! Hunt delivers a lovely cross and Sean St Ledger sneaks in unmarked at the back post to head home - lost Gilardino and put away a diving header from a couple of yards!
85 mins Free in won by Hunt - the ref obviously not a Premiership fan as having initially done well by running between defenders, Hunt then did his 'knock it ahead and fall down' after gaining a few yards.
Sweet position near the corner of the Italian box.
84 mins Pirlo takes and it is another stunner - high and the dipping into the six yard box it evades Given's fist and everyone else and runs out over the far touchline.
Ireland throw and Italy concede a goal kick from the clearance effort.
83 mins Italy again work it around the perimeter of the Irish defence and Hunt eventually concedes a free to Camoranesi on the Italian right wing. Close to the touchline and 12 yards from the endline or so.....
81 mins Ireland have a rare attack and Keane lays it off to Hunt but his cross is headed out and Italy run it back at Ireland. Keane flirts with a yellow card with a dodgy tackle on Pirlo but is let off.
Best does get a yellow soon after - very harshly - for his attempt to get to a ball that had run away from him. Clashed with De Rossi, but looked to get the ball.
80 mins Gilardino gets a chance after neat play by De Rossi and Iaquinta but his shot from the edge of the box is wild and high.
79 mins Italy are soon back in the Irish half but again their final third play is poor and Given again mops up loose ball and punts downfield - that's the pattern for now.
78 mins Italy again in control in the Irish half and Camoranesi launches a cross from out on the right but Given claims it easily.
76 mins John O’Shea has to get up high to head away another Italian cross from the left at the back post but the danger is averted.
McGeady goes off for Stephen Hunt.
74 mins Lawrence puts a ball down the line for Best and he puts the pressure on but can't force the corner or get the ball. Kick out Italy.
Gilardino and Bochetti come on for Di Natale and Grosso.
74 mins St Ledger declines to head a long ball allowing Iaquinta to sneak possession in behind him. From near the endline, Italy work it to De Rossi who tries a long range shot that goes wide along the ground.
73 mins Lawrence takes and Buffon claims again on the edge of the six yard box.
73 mins Corner to Ireland - Robbie Keane working hard for the cause and forcing it out on the Irish right.
71 mins Whelan's right calf is being looked at by the medics - maybe an injury change there though Ireland need some energy.
Ireland win a free in the Italian half and Kilbane puts it into the box. Dunne nods it down and Lawrence shows power and commitment to get to the breaking ball but his effort nips off his toe and wide from near the endline.
70 mins Zambrotta gets room on the right and smacks a good low shot at Shay Given who parries round the post.
Corner is headed out by Best.
69 mins Glenn Whelan - yellowed earlier - is off for.......Martin Rowlands. Surprise change there.
67 mins Ireland are quickly back on the attack though and Lawrence's cross results in a throw. He has another go and this time his cross reaches McGeady, who passes to Andrews. His attempted cross is blocked and Italy counter quickly, with several white jerseys racing upthe field. Ireland get the situation under control and the attack ends with an arrowed cross from Palombo to Camoranesi that entirely defeats the Italian right winger.
66 mins McGeady intercepts a pass and darts into the Italian half where he is fouled first by Camoranesi and then De Rossi, who gets a yellow for his blatant shift pull.
Long ball in is headed down very well by Best but Keane can't get to it and Italy clear.
65 mins Italy work it aroud menacingly in the Irish half until Pirlo has a shot from the edge of the D - blocked down but there is a measure of composure to the Italian play now.
Ireland make a change bringing in Leon Best for Kevin Doyle.
64 mins Iaquinta can't control a long ball under pressure from St Ledger and his little dive as the ball ran out over the end line is a touch pathetic.
63 mins A series of throw ins to Ireland on their right wing ends with McGeady receiving the ball on the far side but his ill advised chipped pass goes to an Italian and they press forward. Their attack breaks up on the edge of the box.
62 mins Ireland have the ball now but they are playing deeper than the Italians. A long ball to Doyle puts them on the attack and it is worked in to Keane in the box but he is crowded out of it and Italy get the ball back to midfield.
59 mins Ireland win the ball in midfield with great pressure but a loose pass gives it straight back and Italy are again probing inside the Irish half. They push down their right wing and McGeady is forced to concede a throw. A cross in is headed away by St Ledger and Lawrence then concedes another throw. A long clearance follows soon after as another Italian through ball doesn't work out.
57 mins Chance for Keane as he is put through by McGeady but Legrolatallie gets a block in on his shot/cross from a very tight angle and it is a corner - Ireland had Italy on the run there. Corner goes back post to Dunne who heads solidly but straight at Buffon from an angle.
Italy counter quickly and Iaquinta's cross has to be headed over his own bar by John O'Shea.
56 mins Iaquinta plays a nice ball down the line and it is worked to Pirlo who tries a chippy pass over the top but O'Shea gets his head in the way and ends the danger. Ireland are on the attack now and win a free in the Italian half.
55 mins Italy clear their lines and Zambrotta carries it into the Irish half where they start to knock it around. Iaquinta gets to the byline but his cross is blocked by Dunne and it is judged to be a corner - correctly - as it went back and hit the Italian before going out.
54 mins Lawrence takes but hits the jumping wall and Andrews' effort off the rebound then flies over the bar.
52 mins Ireland are on the attack again and Lawrence wins a free in a dangerous spot - Chiellini him up six yards outside the box.
Whelan? Keane? Lawrence?
51 mins Ireland get it back when Grosso concedes a throw and they improvise an overhead clearance through Lawrence. Another free to Italy in their half - Keane this time the perpetrator. John O'Shea breaks it up with an intercept this time.
50 mins Lawrence takes but Italy again handle it well enough and get it clear - St Ledger has to scramble a long ball into touch and Italy are back in control.
48 mins McGeady again runs at the Italian defence after being put in the clear by Andrews but his attempted pass to Keane is blocked.
Italy attack but St Ledger breaks it up, takes a few strides and then launches a smashing ball for Keane who takes it to the byline but has his cross blocked. Corner Ireland.
47 mins Ireland now have a free and McGeady swings it to the back post where O'Shea nods it across the goal. Kevin Doyle is beaten to it by Buffon who calmly catches the ball.
45 mins Underway again - Italy kick off and quickly win a free on their right wing through Zambrotta.
Pirlo takes and the ball ends up in the net but it is blown up for offside! Awful moment for Ireland as Legrotallie's header bounced towards the net and Chiellini added a touch as it was going in and he was adjudged offside. Wrongly, I think. But what of it.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-1 ITALY
45 mins Ireland knock it around the midfield and back four but can't penetrate and the ref blows it up for half-time.
43 mins Some great trickery from McGeady on his left wing - he makes a mug of Camoranesi twice - and pops in a decent ball though again a touch too low. An Italian head knocks it in the air and Keane has a go at hitting the dropping ball goalwards but his effort hits the side netting from a tight angle.
Italy win a free in midfield next and Pirlo has a go from way out but his shot sails over the bar - he'd make a good free taker if any GAA teams out there are looking!
42 mins Swung in from near halfway and Richard Dunne wins the header but it goes well wide from the edge of the box.
41 mins Camoranesi swings a cross to the near post from the Italian right but there's nobody there and Given takes it.
Ireland get it upfield and win a free through Kevin Doyle, who is taken from behind.
40 mins Grosso wins a corner a Pirlo swings a big high inswinger to the far post where Legrottaglie's header is striaght into the ground and wide - a dangerous moment.
38 mins Kilbane intercepts an Italian pass and hares clear of his left back berth - a 60 yard run ends with Zambrotta winning a free after cleverly using his body to get in front of the Irishman.
36 mins Lovely Italian play between Iaquinta, Zambrotta and De Rossi down their right springs De Rossi but his cross is too long and Ireland again manage to get it clear.
36 mins A second iffy moment for St Ledger; unaware of approaching Italian pressure he allows a high ball too bounce in the box - again, he tidies up this time heading clear.
35 mins Grosso chases a through ball down the Italian left but Lawrence covers well and uses his strength to sheperd it out.
33 mins Shay Given does the for Ireland, reacting quickly to take a Pirlo through ball. A second one follows soon after and this time Sean St Ledger tidies up - though not before giving fans a heart in mouth moment with a hesitation and a chip that might have gone wrong to his right back.
31 mins Doyle briefly looks like getting to a long clearance but Buffon comes out and calms it down by claiming the ball at the edge of the Italian box.
Glenn Whelan then gets yellowed - he's out of the Montenegro game - for a poorly judged tackle on De Rossi. Whelan left his feet there and coming from behind, has paid the penalty.
29 mins Ireland keep the pressure a late Italian foot just prevents Doyle from flashing at a ball near the six yard box. Another corner is won and Lawrence delivers a better ball but Buffon comes and claims on the edge of the six yard box.
28 mins Robbie Keane's backheel puts Lawrence in space down the right and he crosses but it is knocked over the endline by an Italian defender.
McGeady's corner is poor and cleared at the near post.
Ireland get it again and McGeady beats Zambrotta but again his delivery is again too low.
25 mins GOAL! Italy get back to level terms from the corner - a near post cross that Mauro Camoranesi nods low into the corner of Shay Given's net, the keeper's hand got there but couldn't keep the ball out.
24 mins Grosso volleys a sweet shot from outside the box but it is straight at Given who catches it cleanly.
Italy come straight back and win a corner when Iaquinta is dispossessed.
23 mins Chance for Italy as Grosso gets free on the endline but his low cross from the edge of the box is behind the Italians lining up in the box and De Rossi's shot skews skywards.
Ireland counter quickly and McGeady beats a trio of tacklers and is almost clean through in the Italian half only for the final Italian foot in the defence to intervene and end his run.
22 mins Ireland's tackling is costing the odd free - Kilbane concedes one to Camoranesi with a drag back on the Italian right wing. They move it to the far side and Lawrence breaks up the attack.
21 mins Aimed at Richard Dunne but its too high and runs out over the endline.
20 mins Italy are continuing to press the fringes of the Irish defence but it is holding strong and another through ball ends up with Given - Camoranesi's effort at a slide rule ball not hitting the mark. Ireland then win a free inside the centre circle.
19 mins Boos and whistles to beat the band - this could be the San Siro - and Grosso's kick smacks into the wall. O'Shea then clears the loose ball from the box and it is a throw to Italy.
18 mins Pirlo runs it down the Irish left wing and then passes to De Rossi who is fouled from behind by Doyle - free from about 10 yards outside the Irish box.....
17 mins Another free to Ireland is delivered long from half-way. De Rossi heads it out but Ireland get the ball down and work it to McGeady. His chipped cross to the far post is too high and ends up floating out of play.
16 mins Would hate to speak too soon, but for now Italy's efforts to pass through midfield are being met with stiff resistance and Iaquinta is also being crowded out of it with his outlets covered. Another Italy attack ends with a poor through ball that runs to Given.
14 mins Italy work it upfield but De Rossi concedes a free for running into Whelan, who had won the ball off him.
Launched long and it eventually ends up with Buffon.
13 mins McGeady cuts inside off the right wing and feeds Whelan - spurning a brief shooting chance - he passes to Lawrence but his delivery is not great from the left and the Italians clear.
Italy are then given a free kick near their box for a challenge by Whelan.
11 mins More Irish pressure forces Grosso to concede a throw to Ireland. Lawrence tries a cross but it is blocked. Another throw goes to Keane but he is hassled off the ball.
Pirlo then wins a free in midfield - dubious play-acting from the Italian but they have it now in the Irish half. Whelan gets a foot in and Ireland are keeping their shape and clearing the Italian's attempts at balls inside. Shay Given eventually gets it and Ireland are back in control.
9 mins Croke Park is still abuzz after that but Ireland have won another free in danger territory. It is down the Irish left wing this time - Lawrence crosses well and it goes straight in the air off an Italian head. Buffon charges at it but can't take and the ball is briefly loose in the Italian box. A defender then scrambles it clear and the pressure lifts.
7 mins GOAL! Glenn Whelan has knocked in the goal of a lifetime, beating Gianluigi Buffon from 25 yards with a nicely stuck shot that looped into the top left corner of the Italian goal - chance came from a cleverly taken free kick; Lawrence rolled it to Whelan, who was ignored by Italy, and his shot flew past the legendary Italian keeper from the edge of the D.
6 mins Keane is the next man to make a dart down the Italian left and he is taken down chasing a chipped ball over the top. Free-kick to Ireland a yard outside the box and on the right.
5 mins Ireland again push down the left with Doyle briefly running at Italy but he is forced out. Throw in to Ireland near the corner flag but Italian pressure forces Ireland back into their own half - they have kept the ball though.
4 mins Another free to Italy on half-way; this time for Kilbane's heading technique against Mauro Camoranesi. Italy knock long ball to Iaquinta but St Ledger sheperds the situation nicely and the ball runs over the endline. Goal kick Ireland.
3 mins Good tackle in midfield breaks up an Italian attack and Keane and Andrews work it across the pitch nicely to give Ireland the ball in the Italian half - McGeady then runs it into touch.
Flick on from Duff from a Given long ball and Ireland are again in control in the Italian half. Lawrence eventually gets in on the right but he loses it inside the box.
Second hard tackle by an Irishman - Richard Dunne this time, Lawrence had one earlier - sees the ref blow for a free to Italy.
2 mins John O'Shea cuts out a through ball from Pirlo as Italy get it moving on the deck. Iaquinta already looks like an awkward customer up front and he has knocked down a couple of long balls in the danger area just in front of the Irish back four.
1 min Ireland kick-off and get blown for offside almost straight away - Keane too far up the pitch for Kilbane's long ball.
Ireland: Given; O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady; Keane, Doyle.
Subs: Westwood, McShane, Nolan, Rowlands, Noel Hunt, Stephen Hunt, Best.
Italy Buffon; Zambrotta, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso; Pirlo, De Rossi; Camoranesi, Palombo, Di Natale; Iaquinta.
Subs: Marchetti, Gamberini, Bocchetti, Gattuso, D'Agostino, Gilardino, Pepe.
8pm Minute's silence for the recent disaster in Sicily before kick-off.
7.58pm Noisy renditions of both anthems - have to say again the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic!
7.55pm President McAleese is meeting the players; the Italians are all smiles (such well brought up young men!). The Irish lads are also in good form and we're minutes away.
7.50pm It's a calm night in Croke Park and there's a full house at - the teams come out to a great receptions and the anthems are up next.
Great atmosphere at Croker - best for any home soccer match in a long time - Come on Ireland!
7.40pm Welcome to the Ireland v Italy live tracker. Action gets underway at 8pm but until then, you can amuse yourselves by coming up with tricky questions for Bill, John and Eamon, who will be taking submissions from the public in a web-only special after tonight's match.
Find out how to get involved here.
Events elsewhere have suited Ireland this evening with Bulgaria struggling in Cyprus - they are currently 3-1 down.
If Bulgaria can't pull off a comeback, that will put Ireland clear in second place by five points with one fixture to go, regardless of what happens in Croke Park.
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group Eight
Rep of Ireland v Italy
Rep of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane,
Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady, Keane, Doyle.
Replacements: Westwood, McShane, Nolan, Rowlands, N. Hunt,
S. Hunt, Best.
Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Chiellini, Legrottaglie, Grosso,
Camoranesi, Palombo, Pirlo, De Rossi, Iaquinta, Di Natale.
Replacements: Marchetti, Gamberini, Bocchetti, Gattuso,
D'Agostino, Gilardino, Pepe.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
