ITALIA UP TO NINETY: Newspapers set the tone

Reaction in the Italian media to the appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni as manager of the Republic of Ireland:

"Trap - In Italy they think I've lost it . . . but now I want to beat the Azzurri"

- Headline from the sports daily Gazzetta Dello Sport

"Trap - Italy, I want to beat you"

- Headline from the sports daily Corriere Dello Sport

"He has won, won again and gone on to dominate entirely. He is like that old Japanese soldier in the jungle, hidden amongst the rocks and bushes of his career, he keeps on fighting a war that is all of his own. He is fighting against time (he will be 69 in March) and he is fighting against clichés of the sort that say he is finished, forget about him"

- Comment from La Stampa

"Giovanni is a hugely enthusiastic guy, he loves a new challenge like this. He'll be all the more stimulated to find himself in the same World Cup qualifying group as Italy. I wish him all the best of luck"

- The former Italy goalkeeper and World Cup winner Dino Zoff

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times