Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has admitted that he would have preferred to avoid meeting Italy at the European Championships this summer.

The 73-year-old, who took over the Ireland team in 2008, will take on his former side in Poland and Ukraine having managed the Azzurri between 2000 and 2004.

"I did not want to meet Italy at Euro 2012, but fate decided so and I only hope it will not be the decisive game of the group stage," he said during the presentation of the Montecatini Terme as Ireland's pre-Euro base.

"I had chosen Montecatini as the location, and I did not change my mind."

Spain and Croatia make up the rest of the Euro 2012 Group C, which will kick off on June 10.