Matches between the Republic of Ireland and Italy always evoke memories of their clashes at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. On home soil in Rome in 1990, Italy eliminated the Republic thanks to Salvatore Schillachi's goal in the quarter-finals - only for Jack Charlton's side to get their revenge in New Jersey four years later with one of the most famous wins in their history courtesy of Ray Houghton's winner.
Far less memorable was their group match in Poznan four years ago when Italy cruised to a 2-0 victory over an already eliminated Irish side.
A repeat of that loss would again send Ireland home. Only a win will be enough for them to reach the last 16 - but at least Group E is the last to conclude so Ireland will know exactly what they need to do to avoid going out of the tournament.
The Italians have no such worries and Antonio Conte's team have already qualified for the knockout stage as group winners.
They await the conclusion of Group D as they will take on the second placed team at the Stade de France on Monday.
TEAM NEWS
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is battling a fever and may not be fit enough to play - if he doesn't recover in time then Salvatore Sirigu will come into the side.
Winger Antonio Candreva has been training separately from the rest of the squad after suffering a right adductor injury in the win over Sweden and is unlikely to play.
Ireland await news on whether Jonathan Walters is fit enough to feature after he sat out the defeat by Belgium due to a troublesome Achilles injury.
Jeff Hendrick, James McCarthy and Glenn Whelan are one booking away from a ban.
GROUP E PERMUTATIONS
Italy are already through as group winners. They can't be caught by Belgium because of head-to-head.
Victory will ensure the Republic of Ireland finish at least third - and four points would guarantee they reach the last 16. The only way Ireland can finish second is if they win and Sweden also win - with Ireland's winning margin at least two goals greater than Sweden's (e.g. Sweden win 1-0 and Ireland win 3-0).
If the Republic of Ireland fail to win they are out - a draw would not give them a chance of finishing as one of the best third-placed teams.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Italy's record in 13 meetings with Ireland is W8, D3, L2 (W4, D2, L1 in competitive games), with three of their last five ending in draws.
- They met four years ago at Euro 2012 in Poznan. Cesare Prandelli's Italy overcame Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland 2-0 thanks to goals from Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli.
- Not since the first two meetings between the sides, which were both 3-0 victories for Italy, has either team managed to score more than two goals.
Italy
- Italy have reached the knockout stages of the Euros for the sixth time in eight tournaments since 1980.
- The only previous time Italy have won their first two games at a Euros was in 2000, when they eventually reached the final.
- They are unbeaten in their 12 competitive games under Antonio Conte (W9, D3). Their last defeat was against Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup.
- Italy have never scored more than two goals in their 35 games at the European Championship.
- They have only lost two of their 23 games in the group stages of a Euro finals (W12 D9).
- Italy have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four games, their longest run since the 2006 World Cup, which they eventually won.
Republic of Ireland
- The Irish are competing at their third Euros, but have yet to make it through the group stage.
- They lost all three of their games at Euro 2012.
- In their last game against Belgium, they failed to have a shot on target in a major tournament game for the first time since the 1994 World Cup (v Norway).
- They are winless in their last seven Euro final matches (D2, L5), since winning their first ever game in the tournament against England in 1988.
- Ireland have never scored more than one goal in a European Championship finals game. In total they have scored just four goals in eight matches.
Possible line-ups
Italy: Sirigu; De Sciglio, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Darmian; Bernardeschi, Thiago Motta, Sturaro, El Shaarawy; Zaza, Immobile.
- Republic of Ireland: Randolph; Coleman, O'Shea, Duffy, Brady; Hendrick, Whelan, Quinn, Hoolahan; Murphy, Long.
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