UEFA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING: Italy 3 Northern Ireland 0:ITALY WRAPPED up an unbeaten Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a comfortable win over Northern Ireland to top Group C by 10 points as visiting coach Nigel Worthington ended his four-year stint with another defeat last night.
Italy, who had qualified for the finals in Poland and Ukraine last month with two matches to spare, were comfortable winners with two goals for Antonio Cassano and an own goal by Gareth McAuley.
Ending qualification with eight wins and two draws from their 10 games, Cesare Prandelli’s rejuvenated Italy will go into the finals as one of the favourites, while Northern Ireland, who end their campaign with nine points, begin the search for a new coach.
Estonia finished second in the group on 16 points to go into the play-offs for the first time.
Sebastian Giovinco, who had been handed a place up front after Giampaolo Pazzini and Mario Balotelli had pulled of the squad injured, almost make the perfect start, combining with Cassano before firing a shot from 20 metres that skidded into Maik Taylor’s midriff off the wet surface.
Northern Ireland, who had slipped to fifth in the group following a 2-1 reversal at home to Estonia on Friday, almost fell behind after 19 minutes when Giovinco’s spinning corner was flicked on at the near post but Giorgio Chiellini, lunging off-balance, could only manage to head wide from point-blank range.
Two minutes later though Italy made the breakthrough when De Rossi lobbed a superb ball over the Irish defence for the run of Cassano who timed his volley to perfection finding the corner for his eighth international goal.
Despite missing a number of regulars including Aaron Hughes and Jonny Evans, Northern Ireland came close to equalising when Gianluigi Buffon had to throw himself full length to turn aside a Ryan McGivern header.
The home side were enjoying the lion’s share of possession though and after Giovinco and Riccardo Montolivo went close, Cassano raced onto an Alberto Aquilani pass after 53 minutes before drilling a low shot into the corner.
After Taylor had turned a Montolivo shot aside he was beaten for a third time in calamitous circumstances after 74 minutes when McAuley kicked the ball from his hands after initially miscuing a clearance.
Meanwhile, former Northern Ireland forward Gerry Armstrong indicated he would be prepared to manage Northern Ireland if the IFA opt to make a part-time appointment. Former QPR, Crystal Palace and Hull boss Iain Dowie has expressed an interest while the Shamrock Rovers management duo of Michael O’Neill and Jim Magilton have been strongly linked with the post.
ITALY:Buffon (De Sanctis 76), Cassani, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti, Montolivo, De Rossi, Pirlo, Aquilani (Nocerino 69), Giovinco, Cassano (Osvaldo 56). Subs not used: Maggio, Cigarini, Astori, Rossi.
NORTHERN IRELAND:Taylor, Hodson, Baird, McAuley, McGivern, Little, Norwood (McLaughlin 74), Evans, Gorman (McGinn 78), Davis, Healy (Feeney 65). Subs not used: Mannus, McCourt.
Referee:AM Mateu Lahoz (Valencia).
