The Azzurri will be without captain Fabio Cannavaro for this weekend's showdown with the Juventus defender serving a one-match ban.

BBC: Lippi chasing victory in Dublin

Stephen Appiah, the captain of the Ghanaian football team, has played professionally for Juventus in Italy and now Fenerbahce in Turkey.

BBC: NEWS | Africa | Me And The Media: Stephen Appiah

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is suspended for the trip to Dublin and his Juventus team-mate Nicola Legrottaglie is likely to play in central alongside another club-mate Giorgio Chiellini.

BBC: Lawrence gets start for Republic