The Republic made a dream start against the Azzurri as Glenn Whelan side-footed a beauty from the edge of the box into Buffon’s top corner after just eight minutes. Whelan turned hero to zero in the 26th minute as he drifted from his near-post duties from a corner allowing Mauro Camoranesi to head home the equaliser. Ireland looked to have pulled off the win when Sean St. Ledger sent Croke Park wild with a diving header in the 87th minute. But the Italians played until the final whistle where Alberto Gilardino snatched a late equaliser to poop on the Republic’s parade.

Gli azzurri pareggiano 2-2 in Irlanda e si qualificano con un turno di anticipo. La squadra del Trap parte forte e va in vantaggio con Whelan, poi reazione azzurra con Camoranesi. Finale-thrilling nella ripresa: a St. Ledger risponde l’attaccante della Fiorentina Gilardino.

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