Christopher Lee/Getty Images Euro 2012, Group C—Stadion Miejski, Poznan, Poland
Republic of Ireland vs. Croatia (kickoff 2:45 p.m. Eastern)
Lineups
Ireland: Shay Given, Sean St. Ledger, Stephen Ward, John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady, Keith Andrews, Damien Duff, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Ivan Strinić, Vedran Ćorluka, Gordon Schildenfeld, Ivan Rakitić, Ognjen Vukojević, Luka Modrić, Darijo Srna, Ivan Perišić, Nikica Jelavić, Mario Mandžukić
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Predictions
Tommy Smyth predicts a 1-0 win for Ireland.
Alexi Lalas says Croatia will "spank" Ireland.
Kasey Keller says Croatia will win, but, alas, no spanking.
Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Formations
Croatia playing a 4-1-3-2 today, with Jelavic and Mandzukic up top. Modric (pictured) is the creative midfielder sitting right behind the strikers.
Ireland will come out in a pretty standard 4-4-2. There's no secret to what they'll do: Attack the flanks and defend stoutly.
Pregame
We're about 15 minutes from kickoff. The atmosphere inside the stadium in Poznan is reportedly quite raucous. Not that ESPN will deign to show us.
Instead, we're being "treated" to the hair-raising brilliance of Tommy Smyth in the studio. Bring back shoegazer Rossi, please.
Tweet, Tweet
Not to be outdone:
John Brewin @JohnBrewinESPN
There's a menacing Croatian tune being belted out by their fans. They are in full voice and have not been outdone in Poznan. #euro2012
Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Fun facts
(Via UEFA.com)
For Ireland:
• At 73 years and 85 days, Giovanni Trapattoni will become the oldest coach to grace a UEFA European Championship against Croatia, breaking the record of Otto Barić (71yrs, 2 days), Croatia's coach in 2004.
For Croatia:
• Croatia have scored four goals in each of the EURO group stages they have participated in, in 1996, 2004 and 2008.
Tweet, Tweet
Another reason to like the Irish.
Andrew Maxwell @andrewismaxwell
I'm ready to support the Boys in Green,are you.....? #coybig pic.twitter.com/1k9Jo92E
Tweet, Tweet
If you don't get the reference, don't worry.
Opta @OptaJean
0 - The Republic of Ireland are the only team at EURO 2012 without any player from their domestic league. Erasmus.
Michael Regan/Getty Images In studio
The ESPN studio crew breaks down the previous game
Giuseppe Rossi stares at his feet, rolls his eyes and struggles to hide his disdain for Alexi Lalas.
Alexi Lalas says bombastic, reactionary things.
Michael Ballack acts very German, because, well, he's sehr Deutsch.
Tweet, Tweet
If you didn't already know it, the Irish are fun to have around at these kinds of events.
Tony Mabert @tony_mabert
This is why it's great to have Ireland at a tournament (via @mr_klaster1): pic.twitter.com/UXkABciu
Stakes
Spain and Italy drew 1-1 in today's early match. That means the winner of our match, if we have a winner, will lead Group C after the first round of matches.
Croatia lineup
And here's Croatia, also via Fox Soccer:
FOX Soccer Trax
@FOXSoccerTrax
- ✔
CROATIA: Pletikosa, Strinić, Ćorluka, Schildenfeld, Rakitić, Vukojević, Modrić, Srna, Perišić, Jelavić, Mandžukić
Ireland lineup
Lineups are out. Here's Ireland's starting XI, via Fox Soccer:
FOX Soccer Trax - ✔
IRELAND: Given, St Ledger, Ward, O'Shea, Dunne, Whelan, McGeady, Andrews, Duff, Doyle, Keane
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