“When Giovanni Trapattoni took the surprising decision to extend his remarkable managerial career and become Republic of Ireland boss last year, the date of October 10, 2009 would have been instantly circled in his diary. In the ambitious mind of this ceaselessly passionate 70-year-old, the visit of his native Italy to Dublin in the penultimate round of World Cup qualifiers was always likely to represent his date with destiny and, to an extent, that seemingly unlikely scenario has come to pass.” (ESPN)