Lippi Warns of Tough French Challenge for Ireland

“It will be a very different France to the team that has played in the competition to date” he said, “they will have Zidane, Thuram, Makelele in the team and Ireland will find it difficult.

“But Ireland have very good players as well, players like Duff and Andy Reid and they are a strong team. Their task will be a difficult one but not an impossible one.”

He said he was delighted with the performance of his own team, they had played exactly as he had wanted them to in an away match. Andrea Pirlo had produced a very good performance in central midfield.