The Italian Jobs

Following the Republic of Ireland's win against Italy in Euro 2016, we wondered if there was anything interesting to be found in the history of Italian losses in international tournaments - FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup and UEFA European Championship. Note that these results are over 90 minutes only, losses on penalties and losses in extra time (e.g. the 2-1 loss to France in 2000 European Championships) were not taken into account.

Only 17 teams hold tournament victories over the Azzuri - Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Ireland, Netherlands, North Korea, Poland, Slovakia, Soviet Union, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Uruguay.

Of these, Netherlands, Soviet Union, Switzerland and now Ireland have beaten Italy twice in international competitions. Brazil have a record four tournament wins (Two World Cup, two Confederations Cup) victories over Italy.

Both of Switerland's wins have come in World Cup games. Only Netherlands, Soviet Union and Ireland have beaten Italy in both the World Cup and the European Championships.

Both of Ireland's wins have come in the group stages of tournaments (1994 and 2016), a record we share with Brazil's two group stage victories in the 2009 and 2013 Confederations Cup. The Netherlands' wins came in the group stages of Euro 2008, and in the second group stage of the 1978 World Cup - there was no "knock out" stage in that tournament, the eight winners and runners up of the first group stage were grouped into two groups of four for the second round, with the winners of each group facing off in the final.

Irish Player Transfers - May/June 2016

With the 2016 summer transfer window opening today, we've compiled a list of the Irish players who have already transferred, signed loan deals and signed new contract

Permanent Deals

22nd May 2016

Following his release from Southend, Cian Bolger signed a three year deal with Fleetwood Town: http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/article/fleetwood-town-cian-bolger-transfer-3121628.aspx

25th May 2016

Following the expiration of his contract with Bradford City, Alan Sheehan signed a two year deal with Luton Town: http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/alan-sheehan-joins-luton-3125200.aspx

Southend midfielder Gary Deegan signed a two year deal with Shrewsbury Town: http://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/article/shrewsbury-town-gary-deegan-sky-bet-league-1-3125294.aspx

After being released by Wolverhampton Wanderers, former Monaghan United goalkeeper Aaron McCarey signed a two year contract with Ross County: http://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news/archive/four-new-signings-for-201617-season/

31st May 2016

Folllowing a loan at Rochdale at the end of the 15/16 season, Niall Canavan has signed a two year deal with the Dale: http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/article/canavan-agrees-two-year-deal-3130195.aspx

Following loan spells at Shrewsbury and Crawley in 2015/16, Liam McAlinden signed for Exeter City: http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/article/grecians-complete-third-signing-of-the-summer-3130226.asp

6th June 2016

After making almost 100 appearances for Morecambe, winger Jamie Devitt signed a two year deal with Carlisle United: http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/article/winger-jamie-devitt-joins-on-....-year-deal-3131660.aspx

After impressing on trial, U18 midfielder Leo Donnellan signed a one year deal with for Dagenham and Redbridge, with an option for a further year: http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/article/leo-donnellan-signs-dagenham-and-redbridge-3136218.aspx

10th June 2016

Paddy Kenny signed with Northampton Town as their goalkeeping coach, and is registered as a player, if required: http://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/article/paddy-kenny-northampton-town-3139886.aspx

15th June 2016

Midfielder Mark Byrne has rejoined Justin Edinburgh, his former manager from Rushden & Diamonds and Newport County, at Gillingham FC on a two year deal: http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/mark-byrne-joins-the-gills-3143289.aspx

17th June 2016

Following his release by Celtic, striker Anthony Stokes has signed a three year deal with Blackburn Rovers: http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/anthony-stokes-3145787.aspx

After loans at Dagenham & Redbridge and Stevenage in 2015/16, Jake Mulraney signed a two year deal with Inverness Caledonian Thistle: http://ictfc.com/news/team-news/1780-2-year-deal-for-jake

20th June 2016

Following a record breaking season with Grimsby in non league football, Padraig Amond has signed  for Hartlepool United: http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/article/hartlepool-united-sign-grimsby-town-striker-padraig-amond-3146931.aspx

21th June 2016

After playing against them in the League Two play off final just a few weeks ago, Connor Smith signed for Plymouth Argyle: http://www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/connor-rolls-in-3147167.aspx

23rd June 2016

Striker Pat Hoban signed for Mansfield Town following his release from Oxford: http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/-stags-capture-striker-3151559.aspx

25th June 2016

Defender Anthony O’Connor left newly promoted Championship side Burton Albion to sign for Aberdeen: http://www.afc.co.uk/news/8045.php

27th June 2016

After ten appearances for Luton Town on loan in 2015/16, Glen Rea signed for the Haters on a two year deal deal: http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/glen-rea-luton-town-brighton-republic-of-ireland-nathan-jones-3158276.aspx

29th June 2016

After making 29 appearances on loan at Preston North End in 2015/16, striker Eoin Doyle signed a three year deal with the Lilywhites: http://www.pnefc.net/news/article/2016-17/eoin-doyle-completes-permanent-move-to-preston-north-end-3161236.aspx

30th June 2016

Former U21 winger Anthony Forde signed with Rotherham United: http://www.themillers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/rotherham-united-anthony-forde-3162249.aspx

James Berrett left York City to sign for Grimsby Town on a two year deal: http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/mariners-sign-berrett-3162278.aspx

Loans

29th June 2016

After spending 2015/16 on loan with Dutch side SC Cambuur, promising U21 midfielder Jack Byrne signed a one year loan with Blackburn Rovers, joining Shane Duffy, Darragh Lenihan, John O’Sullivan and Anthony Stokes: http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/rovers-jack-byrne-manchester-city-3160876.aspx

New Contracts

9th June 2016

Despite having his career with Everton disrupted by injury, Darron Gibson signed a two year extension: http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2016/06/09/gibson-pens-new-deal

10th June 2016

A one year extension was triggered in Wes Hoolahan’s Norwich City contract: http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/norwich-city-contracts-3139779.aspx

29th June 2016

West Ham’s Declan Rice signed a three year deal with the club: http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/June/29-June/Rice-signs-new-contract

30th June 2016

Defender Stephen Kelly signed a one year extension to his contract with Rotherham: http://www.themillers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/stephen-kelly-rotherham-united-3161698.aspx

UEFA Euro 2016 Report

Monday, 13th June 2016
European Championships
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Sweden
Seamus Coleman's 33rd start was also his 35th appearance for Ireland
Darren Randolph's sixth start was also his tenth appearance for Ireland
Jonathan Walters 27th start was also his 40th appearance for Ireland
Robbie Keane's appearance off the bench, his 144th appearance for Ireland, was his first appearance for the national side since Sunday, 11 October 2015 against Poland, which was also the last time Glenn Whelan was booked before this game
Wes Hoolahan scored his third goal for Ireland, 20 months after his last goal in October 2014 against Gibraltar
James McCarthy was booked exactly for the first time in exactly a year, the midfielder's last booking was on Saturday, 13 June 2015

Saturday, 18th June 2016
European Championships
Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland
Robbie Brady's 20th start was also his 25th appearance for Ireland
Wes Hoolahan made his 20th start, and his 32nd appearance, for Ireland
Stephen Ward continued his strange record of only starting for his country, making his 34th start in his 34th appearance for Ireland
Shane Long made his 29th start in his 65th cap for Ireland
James McClean appearance off the bench was his 40th appearance for Ireland
Robbie Keane made his 145th appearance for Ireland
Jeff Hendrick was booked for Ireland for the first time since Friday, 14 November 2014

Wednesday, 22nd June 2016
European Championships
Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland
Shane Duffy matched Stephen Ward's record of only making starts for his country by making his fourth start in his fourth appearance for Ireland
Seamus Coleman made his 35th start in his 37th appearance for Ireland
James McCarthy made his 35th start in his 38th appearance for Ireland
Stephen Ward made his 35th start in his 35th appearance for Ireland, and was booked for the first time since November 2015
Shane Long made his 30th start in his 66th appearance for Ireland, and was booked for the first time in more than three years - his last booking came in March 2013 against Austria
Robbie Brady scored his fifth goal for Ireland, seven months after his last goal for Ireland against Bosnia in November 2015

Sunday, 26th June 2016
European Championships
France 2-1 Republic of Ireland
James McClean made his 20th start for Ireland, in his 42nd appearance
Shane Duffy was sent off for the first time for Ireland in his fifth start, and his fifth cap
Daryl Murphy made his tenth start for Ireland, in his 23rd appearance
Jeff Hendrick made his 18th start, and his 25th appearance for Ireland
Stephen Ward made his 36th start and his 36th appearance for Ireland
Robbie Brady scored his sixth goal for Ireland
Seamus Coleman was booked for the first time since 29th March 2015 against Poland