Rep of Ireland v Croatia

[friedaweed]

Come on Ireland

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Ireland have only lost one of their previous six games against Croatia (W2, D3, L1).
• Only two of those encounters were in competitive matches. They met in qualifying for Euro 2000, with Ireland winning 2-0 at Lansdowne Road in September 1998. However, Croatia exacted revenge thanks to a late winner from Davor Suker in Zagreb a year later.
• The last meeting was a 0-0 draw at Dublin's Aviva Stadium in August 2011.

Republic of Ireland

• The Irish are unbeaten in 14 games, keeping 11 clean sheets. Their last loss was a 3-2 friendly defeat to Uruguay in Dublin in March 2011.
• They have yet to lose a competitive game away from home under Giovanni Trapattoni.
• Trapattoni, 73, will become the oldest coach to take charge of a European Championship finals match. The previous record was held by Otto Baric, who was 71 when he led Croatia at Euro 2004.
• Of the teams that qualified for Euro 2012, the Irish allowed the most shots on target (45).

Croatia

• Croatia collected 23 yellow cards in qualifying - only Greece (27) had a worse record.
• They have qualified for four tournaments since the turn of the century, but the only time they progressed beyond the group stage was at Euro 2008, when they lost to Turkey in the last eight.
• Croatia have not ended a calendar year outside the top 10 of Fifa's rankings since 2006.
• They have never lost their opening game at a European Championship (W2, D1).

 

[quimcunx]

What are the chances of Croatia winning the cup? I've got 2 quid on them.

 

[friedaweed]

What are the chances of Croatia winning the cup? I've got 2 quid on them.

((((((((JOCKS)))))))))

 

[Ax^]

Why the drop kick murphys

They are american and more importantly shite

 

[friedaweed]

Why the drop kick murphys

They are american and more importantly shite

Just for you Ax

Anyway can't Americans be Irish too?

 

[friedaweed]

This shoulda been a Eurovision song contest winner

 

[Voley]

Be brilliant if Ireland win tonight after the draw earlier. Dunno what Croatia are like these days, mind, they're usually half-decent.

 

[friedaweed]

It's gonna be magic. I can feel it

 

[Gingerman]

Win would put us in a nice position

 

[Maggot]

Come on you boys in Green!

 

[doorser]

Gonna win, gonna win.

Hey, where is it possible to watch the match online? I don't have a TV...

 

[Ax^]

he's bloody english

 

[JimW]

Wee ginger lad in the red must be a good omen.

 

[Ax^]

gooooooaaann the boys

 

[JimW]

Be brilliant if Ireland win tonight after the draw earlier. Dunno what Croatia are like these days, mind, they're usually half-decent.

Top striker out crocked apparently. Mind, the pre-match package here had their manager saying Ireland play far too simple and won't present many problems - but he respects them

 

[twentythreedom]

Ireland fielding shirt nos 1 to 11!!

 

[Gingerman]

Drury mentioned the craic

 

[magneze]

Got Ireland in the work sweepstake. C'mon.

 

[Ax^]

 

[editor]

Oh dear.

 

[twentythreedom]

 

[CyberRose]

Fuck! Looks like it's absolutely hammering it down, did Given slip?

 

[Gingerman]

Fecksake !!! still asleep

 

[JimW]

Didn't realise this was the handicap round

 

[friedaweed]

This has got 'Irish Comeback' written all over it

 

[friedaweed]

he's bloody english

Irony

 

[Ax^]

 

[magneze]

 

[friedaweed]

GET THE FUCK IN

 

[CyberRose]

Goal of the tournament!