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Manish Bhasin introduces live Euro 2012 coverage as the final round of Group C matches gets underway. Tonight's featured game is expected to be Italy against the Republic of Ireland, although results in previous matches could mean that Croatia versus Spain is shown instead.

It will be a special occasion for Ireland's coach Giovanni Trapattoni, a managerial legend in Italy, who had a four-year spell as coach of the Azzurri. The Irish will begin as underdogs but will take heart from their friendly win against the Italians last summer. And those with longer memories will recall Ray Houghton's famous winner against Italy at the 1994 World Cup.

Four-times World Cup winners, Italy have only lifted the European Championship once, although they came desperately close to a second title in 2000, losing in the final to France. Cesare Prandelli has replaced Marcello Lippi as Italy coach following the disappointing World Cup campaign, and has earned praise for adopting a more attacking approach. Defensively, however, they remain a tough nut to crack, with Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon still as formidable an obstacle as ever.