- West Ham United pair could come face-to-face at Euro 2016 in Lille on Wednesday
- Angelo Ogbonna set for major tournament debut as Italy set to make changes
- Darren Randolph's Republic of Ireland need a win to have any chance of progression
The Azzurri have already wrapped up the group after back-to-back wins over Belgium and Sweden, and coach Antonio Conte has been forecast to make wholesale changes by the Italian media.
With his former Juventus teammates Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci both on yellow cards and at risk of suspension if they pick up another against the Irish, Ogbonna is tipped to line up alongside Andrea Barzagli and his close friend and ex-Torino colleague Matteo Darmian at the back.
Reports from the Italians’ Montpellier training base also suggest Conte may opt to change his formation for the final group-stage fixture to a more attacking 4-4-2 system.
The strong and versatile defender became an increasingly important figure for the Hammers during his debut season in east London, appearing 34 times and scoring once – an unforgettable last-gasp FA Cup winner against Liverpool at the Boleyn Ground.
The 28-year-old is a two-time Italian champion from his time with Juventus and has eleven senior caps for his country. The Cassino-born player travelled to Euro 2012 with Italy, but remained on the bench as they finished as runners-up to Spain.
We’ve got one more game, we know what we need to do, it’s that simple – we win or we go home
As for Randolph, the West Ham goalkeeper knows Ireland have no wriggle room in Lille, with only a victory giving them a chance of securing a place in the round of 16.
A 1-1 draw with Sweden was followed by a 3-0 defeat by Belgium on Saturday, leaving the Hammers stopper and his fellow Boys in Green needing to beat Italy to finish second or third in the group.
“It’s not the end of the world,” he said, reflecting on the loss to the Belgians. “We’ve got one more game, we know what we need to do, it’s that simple – we win or we go home.”
Ireland also took on Italy at Euro 2012, where the Azzurri ran out 2-0 victors, and the Italians have won eight and lost just two of the countries’ 13 meetings – including a 1-0 win at the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals.
However, the Irish will draw on the memory of their famous 1-0 win over Italy at the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States, when West Ham Academy graduate Ray Houghton scored the memorable only goal in New Jersey.
The last meeting between the two, a friendly played in London in May 2014, ended goalless.
Kick-off in Lille is at 8pm on Wednesday 22 June, with the game being screened live in the UK by ITV.
A 1-1 draw with Sweden was followed by a 3-0 defeat by Belgium on Saturday, leaving the Hammers stopper and his fellow Boys in Green needing to beat Italy to finish second or third in the group.
“It’s not the end of the world,” he said, reflecting on the loss to the Belgians. “We’ve got one more game, we know what we need to do, it’s that simple – we win or we go home.”
Ireland also took on Italy at Euro 2012, where the Azzurri ran out 2-0 victors, and the Italians have won eight and lost just two of the countries’ 13 meetings – including a 1-0 win at the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals.
However, the Irish will draw on the memory of their famous 1-0 win over Italy at the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States, when West Ham Academy graduate Ray Houghton scored the memorable only goal in New Jersey.
The last meeting between the two, a friendly played in London in May 2014, ended goalless.
Kick-off in Lille is at 8pm on Wednesday 22 June, with the game being screened live in the UK by ITV.