THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DUBLIN, Ireland -- Italy needs only a draw Saturday in Ireland to win Group 8 and earn automatic qualification to next year's World Cup in South Africa.
The Irish, however, need to avoid losing to stay well ahead of Bulgaria in the race for the playoff spot.
"They're playing for everything, while for us it's not the last chance," said Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi, noting that his team can still clinch first place in the group if they beat Cyprus next week.
Ireland is coached by Giovanni Trapattoni, and the world champion Italians see plenty to admire in their opponents and former coach. Under Trapattoni, the Irish are undefeated in group play -- including a 1-1 draw at 10-man Italy in April -- and are particularly tough to break down at home.
"It will be great to meet Trapattoni again," said Italy defender Nicola Legrottaglie, who is expected to replace suspended Fabio Cannavaro in central defence. "He was the first coach to believe in me and call me up and put me in the lineup."
Italy coach Marcello Lippi also offered praise for Trapattoni's quick turnaround of an Ireland squad that failed to qualify for the last World Cup and the last two European Championships.
"He has brought a serious organizational capacity to Ireland and he has made them into a real team. He has also done a lot for their self-belief, making them capable of providing serious opposition for any side," said Lippi, who warned his team against taking the Irish lightly.
"The age of David and Goliath in football has gone. There are no Davids and Goliaths anymore," Lippi added. "Every team is well prepared and organized -- all the more so if it is coached by Trap."
But even if Ireland wins Saturday, Italy is still likely to beat Cyprus and force the Irish into the playoffs. Ireland's final match is at home against Montenegro.
The Irish are furious at FIFA's decision this month to seed the playoff round rather than stick to a random draw. The new system makes it more likely that a second-place Ireland would face France, Croatia or Russia in the playoffs.
"It is a joke, let's be honest, because they (FIFA) always seem to bend rules and change things," Ireland left back Kevin Kilbane said.
Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given accused FIFA of switching to a seeded system "because some of the big nations are struggling."
"It's beyond belief ... and pretty disgusting," Given said. "We are a smaller nation, and for them to move the goalposts a few weeks before the end of the campaign is pretty poor."
But Trapattoni and assistant Liam Brady stressed that the Irish simply have to go for two final wins and hope for an Italian slip-up against Cyprus.
"We have got to get six (points) out of six and then hope that Cyprus get something," Brady said.
Also in Group 8, Bulgaria visits Cyprus and Montenegro hosts Georgia.
