UEFA Euro 2012 Results – Ireland 1 – 3 Croatia

The Croatians got of to an excellent start with the softest of goals, scoring with a looping header from almost the edge of the area after just 2 and a half minutes in, Mario Mandzukic the scorer. Ireland were not fazed by this early goal and continued to have a foothold in the game.

There is some controversy in this game as there did appear to be a whistle in the crowd which is causing some of the player to hesitate at the sound of it, regardless the game went on!

Vedran Corluka then conceded a very soft free-kick which Ireland took very well and scored from it. Sean St Ledger is being written into Irish folk history, scoring just 19 minutes in with a header from that freekick.

Croatia’s quality on the ball can be seen when you compare the sides with the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic controlling the ball with skill in the midfield.

Towards the end of the first half the game little chances were created and apart from the odd powerful strike by Modric that was saved by Given.

The last 2 minutes of the first half provide very controversial when Jelavic puts Croatia back into the lead after Modric stick a shot which hit an irish player, the clearance finds Jelavic who was very offside but was deamed offside because the ball cam from an Irish player. Looked harsh on Ireland but the rules of the game state the goal should stand and it did. The first half ended Ireland 1 – 2 Croatia.

The second half begins and it was heart break for ireland when a ball is crossed in, Mandzukic headers, the ball hits the post and went in off the goalkeeper Givens forehead, you just knew it wasn’t his night when that happened.

The second half continues much like the first a lot of attacks and between 70 and 85 minutes plenty of substitutions take place which did take some of the pace out of the game.

The last 10 minutes, including 5 minutes of extra time, was enthralling with ireland really going for it coming very close with a header from a corner. But in the end the Croates did enough to keep their 2 goal lead and the game finished with the Euro 2012 result of 3 – 1 to Croatia

The final whistle blows on a very entertaining game, it really did have everything.

The referee was Bjorn Kuipers of Holland had a resonably good game.