Listen up: Prandelli (top, centre left) talks tactics with his team ahead of crunch clash with Ireland

He said: 'We will see how Mario is on the training pitch. He's a lot better than he was yesterday, so if he trains, then of course he will be fit for the game.'

Balotelli was indeed on the training pitch at the Municipal Stadium on Sunday evening, but the consensus was that he did not look 100% fit.

Trapattoni and Prandelli know each other well, of course, and the younger man retains a huge fondness for the 73-year-old, despite seeing his side slip to a 2-0 friendly defeat by Ireland in Liege last summer.

He said: 'When I speak about Giovanni Trapattoni, I always talk about the coach, "Il Mister", because I had him at a special time in my career.

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