Italy will be at home to the Republic on April Fool's Day in 2009 with the return game taking place at Croke Park six months later on 10 October.

BBC: Trapattoni named Republic manager

Setting out first thing in the morning, especially on an autumn or winter day, when you might get some atmospheric fog on the water, you can almost fool yourself into feeling that you are journeying back into the past.

BBC: A cultural tour of Bruges