POZNAN, June 11: Croatia boosted their hopes of challenging for a quarter-final place in Group ‘C’ at Euro 2012 by beating Ireland 3-1 here on Sunday.
Croatia went top of the group after Spain drew 1-1 with Italy in the other group match.
Ireland's large contingent of travelling fans had waited 10 years to return to a tournament finals, and saw their team trail within three minutes on a night that Ireland's record caps holder Shay Given will wish to forget.
The 36-year-old had been a doubt coming into the game because of knee and calf worries and the slowness with which he reacted to Mario Mandzukic's third minute opener with a header suggested all is not well with him.
He could well end up being accredited with an own goal too as Mandzukic's header came back off the post and went over the line off the diving Given's head.
Sean St. Ledger headed Ireland level in the 19th but Croatia regained the lead three minutes before the break when Nikica Jelavic seized on a misdirected Irish clearance and prodded past Given.
Ireland were rocked again at the start of the second half when Mandzukic's header hit the post and ricocheted against the hapless Given's head and into the net on a disappointing night for the oldest coach ever at the tournament, 73-year-old Giovanni Trapattoni.
Croatian coach Slaven Bilic, 40 years younger than Trapattoni, said that whilst their match had been tighter than the scoreline suggested his side had been the better on the night.
“Maybe they were the better team in some moments, but if you look at the overall impression, we were the better team,” said Bilic, who steps down after the finals to take over at Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow.
“But we respect them, and I'm sure Spain and Italy will have some difficulty against them.
“My players have showed they can cope with the pressure and tension.”
For Trapattoni, who coached Italy at Euro 2004 where they didn't lose a game but still went out in the group stage, said that he hadn't given up hope of making the last eight.
“We have to believe. Every game in this Euro could be a surprise. We have to believe this,” said the Italian. —Agencies