Euro 2012: Day 3: Rep. of Ireland v Croatia match thread

[Bus-Conductor]

I actually thought that was a tactically poor game from both teams. Croatia made hard work and needed a couple of fortunate headers to dispatch a very crap Irish team. You can forgive Trap as he is working with a really sub standard bunch, just getting them there was a major achievement I guess, but Bilic has some good players to work with.

Watching Croatia is a bit like watching Spurs sometimes, can look good on the ball but are vulnerable off it. I reckon Italy and Spain will turn them over.

 

[nightgoat]

Devastated for the Irish, almost impossible for them now, will still be cheering them on though. Bringing on Cox instead of McLean though, incredible decision.

Cox is awful.

 

[DuDe]

On the plus side, I found a pic of the lovely Irish babe from the crowd, and posted it in the Euro Babes thread.

EDIT: actually 2 of them.

 

[Phantom]

problem is, 2 of them dont want to be a squad players, and the other is looking at the top clubs...

Niko made it clear he was happy to be a backup to Bale or VDV etc, but being a squad player you expect a lot more playing time than Corluka or Niko were getting. I like Arry but I really have a problem with the way he manages squad rotation.

Although I suspect Charlie actually wanted to be somewhere he was first choice.

 

[Mr Pink]

I actually thought that was a tactically poor game from both teams. Croatia made hard work and needed a couple of fortunate headers to dispatch a very crap Irish team. You can forgive Trap as he is working with a really sub standard bunch, just getting them there was a major achievement I guess, but Bilic has some good players to work with.

Watching Croatia is a bit like watching Spurs sometimes, can look good on the ball but are vulnerable off it. I reckon Italy and Spain will turn them over.

Totally agree. Croatia have a little style but not much substance. I actually thought Ireland were looking stronger in the middle of the park for the first twenty five minutes, Croatia were getting out muscled a bit.

Still wasn't complaining as I made about 100 quid tonight on Croatia to win with Jelavic to score.

 

[chrissivad]

Niko made it clear he was happy to be a backup to Bale or VDV etc, but being a squad player you expect a lot more playing time than Corluka or Niko were getting. I like Arry but I really have a problem with the way he manages squad rotation.

Although I suspect Charlie actually wanted to be somewhere he was first choice.

Corluka started the season, got injured and they had to try and displace Walker, but wanted out at the first opertunity that arised.
I agree Kranjcar should have got more game time though, but think when he came back to pre season over weight Harry has not been pleased with him.

 

[Dougal]

Feck

 

[spurs mental]

Feck

Feck indeed.

Hard to take in the manner which we conceded the goals considering how strong our defence has been recently.

When you don't have the ball, and Aiden McFuckingGeady plays left wing for you its a tough. The Croatians were a lot better than us in every way though, technically miles better, and no one could get close to Modric.

Wish we had a Roy Keane type in there still.

 

[taidgh]

I can see the Mandzukic transfer rumours beginning to swell already ! Bremen will be loving this game.....

they released him

 

[Legend10]

I actually thought that was a tactically poor game from both teams. Croatia made hard work and needed a couple of fortunate headers to dispatch a very crap Irish team. You can forgive Trap as he is working with a really sub standard bunch, just getting them there was a major achievement I guess, but Bilic has some good players to work with.

Watching Croatia is a bit like watching Spurs sometimes, can look good on the ball but are vulnerable off it. I reckon Italy and Spain will turn them over.

Fortunate headers or very good ones? Especially the second one which was excellent and would have spun in regardless of hitting Given.

 

[THFC_67]

The most disappointing thing for me was the 3 very soft goals conceded, if Croatia had cut us open with some slick passing then fair enough but their goals were all very preventable. Couldn't understand why McLean wasn't brought on when McGeady was taken off, although Cox tried hard surely McLean was the better option. Robbie should have had a penalty but nothing went right all night. Would like to see both Long and McLean start against Spain but Trap will probably go with the same starting 11.

 

[Mr Pink]

The most disappointing thing for me was the 3 very soft goals conceded, if Croatia had cut us open with some slick passing then fair enough but their goals were all very preventable. Couldn't understand why McLean wasn't brought on when McGeady was taken off, although Cox tried hard surely McLean was the better option. Robbie should have had a penalty but nothing went right all night. Would like to see both Long and McLean start against Spain but Trap will probably go with the same starting 11.

If I were Ireland manager I would be playing Shane Long and James McLean all day long. Their two best players on the bench.

 

[taidgh]

How can you term the 3rd goal soft? a great header that as someone said above would have been in the net regardless. Mandzukic did what all good strikers do..the slightest of movements away from his marker and got his head on a good cross.

The other two, on the other hand....

And yeah..we we unlucky with Keano's penalty not given...though it was far from a stone-waller

 

[taidgh]

If I were Ireland manager I would be playing Shane Long and James McLean all day long. Their two best players on the bench.

and walters for me

 

[Mr Pink]

and walters for me

yeah works his nuts off, but to be fair so does Doyle.

 

[mpickard2087]

Yeh I was surprised they took Doyle off. Ireland's best chance would have been to put Walters up alongside him and just hoof it into the box for them to win against Corluka and the other CB.

 

[spurs mental]

Was a strange one taking Doyle off, Corluka was having a mare against him. Hopefully McClean gets a go as well. McGeady drives me mad

 

[Mr Pink]

Was a strange one taking Doyle off, Corluka was having a mare against him. Hopefully McClean gets a go as well. McGeady drives me mad

Just don't rate McGeady at all....how McClean isn't in ahead of him is quite staggering really.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Fortunate headers or very good ones? Especially the second one which was excellent and would have spun in regardless of hitting Given.

Both were good enough headers, but both were fortunate to go in. The first one because of Given's poor keeping, the second one because it actually was put in by Given. I'm not so sure that would have "spun in".

But generally Croatia created very little, against arguably, the weakest side in the tournament, even when the weakest side were chasing the game and leaving themselves exposed.

 

[spurs mental]

Both were good enough headers, but both were fortunate to go in. The first one because of Given's poor keeping, the second one because it actually was put in by Given. I'm not so sure that would have "spun in".

But generally Croatia created very little, against arguably, the weakest side in the tournament, even when the weakest side were chasing the game and leaving themselves exposed.

Harsh on Given for the first goal. He was going the opposite way, if you knew how hard it is to be a keeper and change your direction like that you'd know how difficult it was for him to save that. Not the most powerful of headers yes, but he managed to get fingertips to it. Had he not been moving the other way he would have saved it.

As for the second one, massive good fortune hitting off his head. Absolutely nothing he could do.