Ireland to face Italy at Craven Cottage

The Republic of Ireland will face Italy in a friendly in London on May 31st, the FAI confirmed this afternoon.

Martin O'Neill's side was widely expected to meet the Azzurri ahead of the World Cup and the fixture has now been finalised for Craven Cottage, five days after a meeting with Turkey in Dublin.

Italy will contest World Cup Group D in Brazil with England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

Ireland have won just two of their 13 previous meetings with Italy. The most recent encounter between the two sides was a 2-0 win for Cesare Prandelli’s team at Euro 2012 in Poznan, Poland.

The teams drew twice in the qualifiers for World Cup 2010, with Ireland securing a 1-1 result in Bari and Italy scoring a late equaliser for a 2-2 scoreline at Croke Park.

The FAI are in discussions for more friendlies this summer and “further announcements will be made in due course”.

Ireland captain Robbie Keane, meanwhile, has confirmed he is likely to finish his career in America.

The former Spurs and Liverpool striker recently signed a contract extension with LA Galaxy and expects to remain in Major League Soccer.

“With signing a contract I think I can definitely see myself finishing (my career) in America,” he said. “There’d be no point in my, at this stage, going back to England. For what? I’ve scored a lot of goals there, played a lot of games.

“Unless you’re going to go back and play for a team that’s going to win stuff. If not, I don’t see any reason to go back.”