Trapattoni returns Keane fire

Republic of Ireland heads into its final Group C fixture against Italy with its hopes of reaching the EURO 2012 quarter-finals long gone after comprehensive defeats by Croatia and Spain.

Keane, who struck his first blow in his role as a television pundit after the 4-0 drubbing by the reigning champion, was even more withering in his Sunday morning newspaper column, suggesting Trapattoni should make 11 changes for the Italy game because the team which played in midweek is not good enough.

Trapattoni, who had his own say the following day, returned to the theme when asked about the former Manchester United captain's latest verbal assault.

The 73-year-old said: "He has been a great player and had great success. I don't know if he achieved the same results as coach or manager.

"I can ask him why? I think for intelligent man, I can't understand it."

Trapattoni them made a remark in Italian which was not translated, but proved to be less than complimentary.

The Republic of Ireland boss was clapped into his press conference in Poznan by Italian journalists who revere him, although perhaps not for his own spell in charge of their national side.

He was asked for his opinion on all things Italian and in particular, about Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli and AC Milan's Antonio Cassano, two men who have attracted more than their fair share of headlines in the recent past.

Asked specifically about Balotelli, Trapattoni said: "He's had problems. In the past, people said the same things about Cassano, that he needs to grow up.

"Antonio Cassano has grown up. We always have players who players and media want to see off the pitch. The squad needs these players.

"I have had these problems with players, but not only in Italy. Often a coach finds himself in this position.

"Only [Italy boss] Cesare Prandelli can see inside the squad and see the behaviour and its impact. He will know whether it is wise to have him in the team."

Trapattoni had hoped to approach the final game with qualification still a possibility, but will instead send his players out for what is a dead rubber for them, but very much alive for his native country.

Italy needs to win and hope that Croatia and Spain do not play out a high-scoring draw, which would eliminate it regardless.

Inevitably, minds have returned to EURO 2004 when Denmark and Sweden draw 2-2 to dump Italy out of the competition amid cries of foul play, and the conspiracy theorists are already in full flow.

Trapattoni said: "When things like this go on, we are all ready to think that we Italians are masters at making these agreements.

"We are famous - in fact, infamous - for it. Everything is the same in other countries. These things have happened all over the place. Great scars were left by this.

"We need to play our own game and ask for commitment from players for the people who pay our wages and our supporters.

"We have worked well. We will not change our approach because we lost two games. It would undermine our honour."

Trapattoni has named the same team which started against Croatia, meaning Kevin Doyle will replace Simon Cox, while Damien Duff will take over the captaincy on the occasion of his 100th cap.

The Republic of Ireland players will wear black armbands during the game to mark the 18th anniversary of the shootings of six men in Loughinisland, County Down, as the victims watched the national team play Italy at the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States.

Usual skipper Robbie Keane said: "It's only right that we do wear the armbands in respect of everyone's families to let them know as a team and as a nation, that we are thinking of their families."