Blues striker Daryl Murphy is hoping to make his first appearance of Euro 2016 when the Republic of Ireland take on Italy in their final group game in Lille this evening (ITV from 7.15pm, KO 8pm).

Ireland need to beat the Italians, who will win the group regardless of today’s result, to stand any chance of making the knockout stages, having drawn 1-1 with Sweden in their opening match before losing 3-0 to Belgium.

Murphy was an unused sub in both those games but some sections of the Irish press are tipping him to start today’s match.

"It would be nice to play some part but I don't know what the manager is going to do, we know what we need to do in the next game but I don't know what the manager is thinking of," the 33-year-old said.

"I'm delighted to be here but you don't want to be just making up the numbers, you want to get a chance. But it's been hard for the manager to look at the bench and try to use me - hopefully it's the case in the last game.”

Capped 21 times by Ireland so far without scoring an international goal, the Waterford-born frontman says the squad are confident that they can beat the Italians, despite the heavy defeat to the Belgians.

"We need to believe going into that game that we can win it, it's as simple as that,” he added.

“Why can't we? We've played some very good teams and got good results so there's no reason why we can't do that. Of course the belief is there, the Belgium game is gone, we're on to the next one now.”

Murphy expects Italy to make wholesale changes having already won the group: "I hope that's the way they approach it. But they'll be very professional in the way they approach it and they'll want to win it.

“It's up to us to bring the game to them. We know what we need to do so it's a case of believing that we can do it. We will try our best and hopefully it will happen for us."

Photo: Action Images

rfretwell added 10:24 - Jun 22 If Murph had scored a couple of goals by now ONeill would have more confidence in him. A power header from a set piece sends Ireland through. Murph becomes a legend. Here's hoping!
4

hoppy added 10:42 - Jun 22 Would be a good time to score his first goals for Ireland... remember last season how long he went without scoring and then burst into life with a hattrick against Rotherham...
1

Daniel72 added 16:22 - Jun 22 WHOOOOOAAAHH.......
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls