Martin O'Neill and Seamus Coleman have both refused to be drawn on Marco Tardelli's incendiary comments about Irish player's technical ability ahead of tomorrow's crucial encounter with Italy.

Former Ireland assistant manager under Giovanni Trapattoni, Tardelli, openly questioned the ability of the the Irish players to take on board tactics and to play a brand of passing football.

"They have trouble handling the game tactically. They don’t get that football is also an intellectual matter, and not just about attacking and going forward," the 1982 World Cup winner told Gazzetta Dello Sport after the Belgium defeat on Saturday.

But when asked about the comments of the former Ireland assistant boss today, O'Neill simply said that Tardelli was "entitled to his opinion" while Coleman says that he is "not really bothered" with what Tardelli had to say.