Ireland play out impressive stalemate with Italy

Italy 0-0 Republic of Ireland

If Eileen Gleeson is to fully realise her vision of an Irish renaissance - defined by expansive, ambitious, attacking football - then Florence seemed like a good place to start.

In her first game as permanent head coach, Gleeson's charges played out a stalemate at Viola Park, with the visitors just a couple of brush strokes shy of putting their highly-rated opponents to the sword.

However there was much to admire here. Leanne Kiernan was desperately unlucky to have a late goal chalked off for offside after a terrific move that cut the Italians to shreds. The flag went up; replays suggested that was questionable call.

And though both teams lacked a cutting edge in a well-contested game, the Girls in Green will go into Tuesday's friendly with Wales buoyed by another performance that suggested they are certainly moving in the right direction.

Ireland's well-aired ambitions of adopting a more open approach received its greatest stress test since Vera Pauw departed last August.

Italy are ranked 14th in the world and finished second in their League A UEFA Nations League group, beating world champions Spain 3-2 during an impressive campaign.

They seemed surprised by Ireland's approach early on. With Megan Connolly protecting the back four, Jess Ziu - making her first start in 17 months - and the excellent Izzy Atkinson provided the attacking support for Kyra Carusa, with Ruesha Littlejohn and Jessie Stapleton a solid support cast.

McCabe stung the palms of Katja Schroffenegger with a sweet drive from over 30 yards out, then Carusa raced onto a clever Payne through ball, the Californian losing her footing and scuffing in a tame effort that the keeper smothered.

It took until just before the half-hour mark