Martin O’Neill has told his Republic of Ireland players to “make history” against Italy tonight in a match they must win to reach the knock-out stage.
Italy, who have already qualified as Group E winners, are expected to make up to nine changes to their starting line-up but Ireland still have it all to do to beat them.
O’Neill always knew his side would need one win from their group matches to progress and, after drawing 1-1 with Sweden and losing 3-0 against Belgium, they need it to come tonight in Lille.
“I want the players to see this as an opportunity to make some history,” said O’Neill.
“I think that will be the view of the players. There is excitement. We always felt we would have to win a game in the group stage, we would have to win a match and so we have to win this one. That is it.”
Ireland are without Jon Walters because of an Achilles injury and O’Neill could make five changes from the side beaten by Belgium.
Ciaran Clark and James McCarthy are expected to be dropped. Stephen Ward is likely to make way for Robbie Brady at left-back, with either Daryl Murphy or James McClean coming into midfield. Captain John O’Shea and Wes Hoolahan are also in danger of being left out.
Group E permutations
Italy are guaranteed top spot and will play Group D runners-up Spain.
Belgium will clinch second spot with a draw and would play the Group F winners. They can only finish fourth if they lose and Ireland beat Italy.
A win would mean Sweden are at least third. If Ireland also win they would be split by goal difference, goals scored then discipline and finally coefficient, which Sweden edge.
Ireland must win to have any chance of progressing.
O’Neill was asked at his pre-match press conference whether Ireland’s victory against Italy at the World Cup in 1994 shows that anything is possible. The Ireland manager, instead, pointed to his side’s 1-0 win against Germany in qualification and their two-legged play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina to reach the finals.
“We beat the world champions on a night when we had to win, that was extraordinary,” he said.
“It [Germany’s] was not a normal side but one that had gone to Brazil 18 months earlier and won the World Cup. So we do not have to go back to 1994, we can draw on that recent one because this is the set of players that did it. The inspiration will come from that night and the night against Bosnia.”
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Italy coach Antonio Conte has told Ireland to expect no favours from his side, who face Spain in the last 16. Italy could be forgiven for having on eye on that game in Paris on Monday but Conte said: “If you think this is a dead rubber for us, that is not the case.
“Winning breeds additional victories. The fact we have qualified does not mean anything.”
As part of Italy’s changes, Salvatore Sirigu is set to start in goal, with captain Gianluigi Buffon unlikely to play.
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