Italy coach Marcello Lippi paid tribute to his team after they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Republic of Ireland.

Mauro Camoranesi and Alberto Gilardino's goal a minute before full-time cancelled out strikes by Glenn Whelan and Sean St Ledger at Croke Park.

"The lads played with character, grit and quality. Conceding three minutes from time was very harsh. The players passed the ball around well at the end and created this goal for a deserved draw," Lippi said according to football-italia.net.

Lippi went on to say it would have been "a huge injustice" if Italy had lost in Dublin.

"If we had lost this game it would've been a huge injustice," he said of the 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland.

"You don't just need spirit to score a goal. Gilardino barely touched the ball surrounded by defenders, but he made the difference with it.

"The great thing about this side is whoever plays, in whatever portion of the match, is very enthusiastic and eager to contribute," continued Lippi.

"To play in front of 75,000 people and faced with this very warm atmosphere in the Irish spirit, we did well to get a result. We had scored another goal with Vincenzo Iaquinta and I don't know why it was disallowed."

Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland are mathematically in the play-offs, while Italy can now defend their 2006 trophy.