EUROPEAN UNDER-21 QUALIFIERS, GROUP F
Italy v The Republic of Ireland, Ascoli, 4.30pm
TELEVISION
Live coverage of all the build-up and match action from the Stadio Del Duca from 4pm on RTÉ2. Streaming live online on RTÉ Player. Joanne Cantwell will be joined in studio by Richie Sadlier.
ONLINE
We'll have a live match tracker on rte.ie/sport, the RTÉ News app, as well as updates and goals on RTÉ Soccer Twitter and RTÉ Sport Facebook.
WEATHER
A warm and sunny day is forecast for Tuesday in Ascoli with almost no wind and temperatures at around 25C come kick-off time.
IRELAND CAN SECURE TOP SPOT
Jim Crawford's Republic of Ireland are 90 minutes away for securing their place at the European Under-21s Championship finals for the first time.
Ireland take on Italy in Ascoli knowing that a win would see them finish top of Group F and with that, claim their spot in next year’s European Under-21 Championship in Romania and Georgia.
Crawford’s side are already guaranteed a play-off place following last week’s 1-1 draw between Italy and Sweden, which meant that Ireland could not be overtaken by the Swedes in second place.
A win or a draw will be enough for Italy to take the automatic qualifying place, who lead Ireland by two points at the top of the table. For Ireland only a win will do but with their job clear and much of the pressure on Italy, this could almost be considered a free hit for the Boys in Green.
Italy got the better of Ireland in the reverse fixture, winning 2-0 in Tallaght in November, but as midfielder Conor Coventry explains, the hosts have already let one chance to secure top spot slip through their fingers against Sweden and he’s hoping to put them under real pressure.
Coventry said: "They probably feel a little bit hard done by, that the group should be finished with now, but it's given us a great opportunity now to go and seek revenge.
"They're favourites, but it's going to be a big game, a hell of a game tomorrow. Look, we'll be prepared. The players know what's at stake and they're looking forward to it, they really are."
CRAWFORD NOT WILLING TO SETTLE FOR SECOND
Ireland come into the game on the back of a fine run of form. Since that 2-0 defeat to Italy last year, Crawford’s side have gone on a four match winning streak, which included back-to-back wins against a strong Sweden side.
The Irish boss will be without the services of Oisin McEntee who has lost his race to be fit, having picked up a shoulder injury during last week’s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tallaght.
Elsewhere, Crawford will be able to call on the same squad that beat Montenegro 3-1 and looks set to name a similar team.
The Ireland manager admits to being delighted with his side’s current form and the fact that they have already secured a play-off place, but he’s not willing to settle for that and will go in search of the win that would see his side book their place as next summer’s finals.
"What a position to be in, to go here where we know that we can win and we'll top the group, which would be an unbelievable achievement," he said. "It's going to be a real challenge because Italy are the best team in the group by a distance.
"You want to qualify for finals so these players can pit their wits against the best players in Europe. That's how you'll develop. It's a huge stage for them. I think it would be used as a springboard for them to really develop and help them in their careers.
"Italy are the top seeds in the group and one of the top teams in Europe. They're probably kicking themselves after last Thursday, how they haven't won the group up to now.
"They're favourites, but it's going to be a big game. The players know what's at stake. It’s given us a great opportunity now to go and seek revenge."
ITALY WON’T PLAY FOR A DRAW
The Azzurri have the benefit of knowing that all they need to do to qualify is to avoid defeat but while they are they obvious favourites to go through, they wouldn’t be the first team to get caught in two minds between going for the win and holding out for a draw before coming a cropper.
Manager Paolo Nicolato is well aware of the pitfalls that being in their situation can bring and insists that he and his team have nothing but victory on their mind.
"We will have no uncertainty against Ireland," he said. "We will try not to reach the end of the match with a result in the balance.
"It will be a difficult match, but we will only aim to win, even if a draw would be enough. We are convinced that we have not got the rewards we deserve so far, from our play and performance, and it is time to reap the benefits now."
Nicolato also signalled that he will name the same starting eleven that featured against Sweden, meaning that Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci will again start.
Ricci impressed mightily in November’s win against Ireland, so much so that he has been promoted to the senior Italy side, making his debut against Germany at the start of the month.
However, given the importance of this game, he drops back down for what could be his final appearance at this age level and if this is his final game with the U21s, he’s looking to bow out on a high.
"[Ireland are] a very physical side with good individuals, but we shouldn’t be afraid of them: we’re Italy and possess quality ourselves," he said.
"We need to impose our game and are capable of making things difficult for them when we have the ball. We also need to take more of our opportunities."
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Follow Italy U21s v Republic of Ireland U21s (Tuesday, 4.30pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 4pm
