Croatia Line-Up: Pletikosa, Schildenfeld, Corluka, Strinic, Srna (c), Rakitic, Modric, Vukojevic, Jelavic (Kranjcar, 72'), Mandzukic, Perisic (Eduardo, 89')
Ireland's start to Euro 2012 hasn't gone too well after being well beaten by a lucky Croatia side. It all started after just three minutes when a deflected cross was headed by Mario Mandzukic, who had slipped, and it managed to squeeze between Shay Given and the post.
Ireland's best chances came from set pieces and they were level on 19-minutes when Sean St.Ledger out-foxed Vedran Corluka to head home a free-kick. But Croatia had the best chances with Given being over-worked, his best save came when he parried a curling an Ivan Perisic shot.
A poor possessional mistake gave Croatia a corner two minutes before half-time. It wasn't properly cleared by the Irish and the ball rebounded into Nikica Jelavic's path, who was offside, the Everton striker had no problem in putting the ball in the net. A tough time to concede, a even tougher time to concede a goal that shouldn't have been.
Ireland then started the second half pretty much how they ended the first, conceding a goal. But again Croatia were extremely lucky in getting it. A free header from Mandzukic hit the post before rebounding off of Given's diving head and into the match, four minutes after the restart.
The timing of the goals ultimately killed Ireland but they did have chances to get a goal back. Keith Andrews had a free header from a corner but it curled past the post when he should have scored. But their best opportunity would have come from a penalty in the 63rd minute, Robbie Keane was fouled by Gordon Schildenfeld in the box via a challenge from behind. But the referee didn't give it and Ireland slumped to a 3-1 defeat and the progress already looks bleak.
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