INCOMING BAYERN MUNICH boss Carlo Ancelotti has warned that there could be another surprise result to come from Ireland.
The much decorated coach says he was impressed by Martin O’Neill’s side in their victory over his native Italy on Wednesday night.
And though the Boys in Green face a huge test against hosts France in the last 16 tomorrow afternoon, Ancelotti reckons we might be heading for Paris next weekend.
“I watched the Republic of Ireland game against Italy and I thought Martin O’Neill’s team played very well,” he writes in today’s Telegraph.
“It is a European Championship of surprises. I know that they have to play France but I would not write the Irish off just yet. Many of the usual rules go out of the window when you reach this stage. Some players are tired while others are just inspired.”
Spain’s lack of variety and aggression could give Italy the upper hand in their Euro 2016 last-16 clash, he says meanwhile.
Defeat to Croatia in their last Group D fixture left Spain facing a daunting knockout clash with Antonio Conte’s men at the Stade de France on Monday – a repeat of the Euro 2012 final.
But Ancelotti, who compared Spain’s Alvaro Morata to Poland and Bayern star Robert Lewandowski, says the reigning champions are not the team they were four years ago and that Italy have every chance of making the quarter-finals.
“I keep getting told that Italy have a really hard draw facing Spain in the Euro 2016 second round in the Stade de France on Monday,” he writes.
“My only response is, yes, but Spain have a really tough draw, too. Italy will play to their strengths in defence and close the space between the lines. They do not have the players to dominate possession.”
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