Euro 2012 qualifying preview: Italy v Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s Euro 2012 hopes may be over, but Nigel Worthington’s men are not taking Tuesday’s match against Italy in Pescara lightly.

Italy have already secured their passage to next year’s finals in Poland and Ukraine, comfortably sitting on top of Group C, seven points clear of second-placed Estonia.

In contrast, Worthington’s side are in fifth place, out of contention for a play-off spot and coming off a 2-1 loss to Estonia in Belfast last week.

Despite the match having little bearing on the group standings, both sides will be keen to end their qualifying campaigns on a high, with Italy coach Cesare Prandelli saying it was too early for his side to get ahead of themselves.

“There’s too many compliments, too much enthusiasm,” Prandelli said. ”Criticism would be better now.”

“If I have a good point, it’s that of having instilled enthusiasm into the players and given them the conviction that they can play football in this way.”

“Everyone says that a national team can’t have the same identity as a club side. But we want to surprise everyone and surprise ourselves with our game.”

Claudio Marchisio is expected to recover from a knock to his ankle suffered in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Serbia, but the absence of strikers Mario Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini could see Pablo Osvaldo handed his international debut.

Worthington has selection headaches of his own, with midfielders Chris Brunt (ankle) and Sammy Clingan (back) both ruled out.

Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty is suspended for the match, while goalkeeper Lee Camp and midfielder Grant McCann have been forced out with groin trouble.