Ireland now face Spain knowing they need at least a draw to keep their chances alive, writes FRANK McNALLYin Poznan
GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI famously visited Croagh Patrick in thanksgiving for Ireland’s qualification. But after finding Croatia a bit too steep a challenge last night, he and his team look to be facing an even bigger mountain if they hope to reach the knock-out stages of Euro 2012.
On a soft day in Poznan, two of the three goals they conceded in a 3-1 defeat were on the soft side, too. The only luck they had, by contrast, was of the hard variety. Even so, there can be no doubt that the better side won.
It was the first time the Republic lost an opening game at a major championship, stretching back to 1988, and the first time they have conceded more than two goals in any of those tournaments.
Ireland now face the reigning European and World Champions Spain, in Gdansk on Thursday, knowing they need at least a draw to keep their chances alive.
Earlier yesterday Spain and Italy drew their Group C game 1-1.
Born on March 17th, the manager is known to place great faith in the holy man whose feast-day he shares – hence the Mayo pilgrimage. But after a disastrous start, it was the other saint in the Irish set-up, full-back Sean St Ledger, who seemed to have rescued him.
It had taken them only three minutes to fall behind, when Shay Given was caught wrong-footed by a Mario Mandzukic header and the ball skidded off the wet grass quicker than he could relaunch.
But then, 16 minutes later, St Ledger got on the end of a McGeady free kick to equalise and send the Irish fans into raptures. Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived.
Just before half-time, Croatia’s Everton striker Nikica Jelavic – booed by some Irish fans because he used to play for Rangers – pounced on a mix-up in the Irish defence to put the Croatians in front again.
And as the first half started badly for Ireland, so did the second. That same man – Mandzukic – powered another header against the post and, at full stretch, Given inadvertently headed into his own net. There was no come-back from that.
There had been an ominous start to a frenzied day in Poznan when, over breakfast in the cafe-lined old town square, the Croats did most of the singing. The Irish fans recovered their numerical and vocal supremacy by mid-afternoon, however. They were still singing loudest in the dying minutes of the match, when defeat was inevitable.
But then Irish football fans are essentially creatures of the night, even when – as on this occasion – the night was not to be theirs.