Jump to it: Claudio Marchisio of Italy battles with Ireland goalkeeper David Ford and Darren O'Dea

Prandelli made a double change at the break as Pirlo and Rossi made way for Angelo Palombo and Alessandro Matri, but the pattern of the first half was largely repeated during the early stages of the second.

Matri shot across goal with 54 minutes gone after Pazzini, who was sent off three minutes into the World Cup qualifier in Bari last April, had expertly turned Cassani's driven pass into his path.

Pazzini and Nocerino departed, as did Kevin Foley and, much to his disappointment, Long as both managers made changes, one in an attempt to rescue the game and the other hoping to close it down.

Italy threw everything they had at Ireland as the clock ran down but substitute Sebastian Giovinco's 86th-minute free-kick, which only just cleared the crossbar, was as close as they came to snatching a draw.

However, their hopes were finally dashed at the death when Cox made ground to get on to the end of Hunt's cross to seal a creditable victory.

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