By PAN PYLAS
The Associated Press
POZNAN, Poland Playing from a difficult team together with Spain plus Italy, it is Croatia with the top.
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The Croats needed good thing about your frail Ireland defense to succeed their own opening match with the European Championship, getting not one but two goals from Mario Mandzukic within a 3-1 wining Sunday night from rainy Municipal Stadium.
"I nevertheless are unable to believe cures merely did. It was an awesome victory," Mandzukic said. "We recognized it would some sort of hard match, but we responded fantasticly as well as most of us realized a terrific victory."
Croatia prospects Group C with a few points, although Spain in addition to Italy each and every have one position soon after his or her 1-1 draw around Gdansk. Ireland, that is certainly using in a major event to the very first time that around 10 years, is definitely last. The Croats next experience Italy upon Thursday.
"Probably one victory shall be plenty of to go to the quarterfinals," Croatia guru Slaven Bilic said.
Croatia needed your guide inside the finally minute while Mandzukic looped some sort of header past your snorkeling Shay Given, nevertheless Ireland equalized in the 19th any time Sean St. Ledger headed inside Aiden McGeady's no cost kick on the left.
Nikica Jelavic put Croatia last front inside the 43rd minute, scoring his initial intention in a competitive match given that he / she created his foreign debut in 2009.
"The subsequent purpose has been obviously offside," Ireland trainer Giovanni Trapattoni said.
Mandzukic extra another inside 48th after their header from Ivan Perisic's cross bounced off the actual place and also into the online off of Given's head.
Croatia close to designed the idea 4-1 inside the 77th while Ivan Rakitic 's opportunity curled just simply wide with Given's perfect fretting hand post.
"Our guru showed us all every little thing around the Irish team," Mandzukic said. "We possessed the many information."
The several ambitions ended up up to Ireland had conceded within it has the past 14 games.
"It ended up being unlike individuals to help concede that objectives most people conceded today," St. Ledger said. "Croatia failed to divided us open. From our level associated with view they had been discouraging objectives to concede."
Bilic reinforced his defense by way of using captain Darijo Srna from correct back again instead of midfield, along with relocating Vedran Corluka all around in order to center back.
"Since the best tiny with the particular match, I appeared to be actually positive and also comfortable that people will be the much better company within the pitch," Bilic said.
There were zero surprises from Trapattoni, an Italian veteran that acquired named his / her establishing lineup days to weeks ahead of the game.
"It's always fine to acquire goals, however most people lost your game," St. Ledger said. "We must get over it now."
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Lineups:
Ireland: Shay Given; John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St. Ledger, Stephen Ward; Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady (Simon Cox, 54); Robbie Keane (Shane Long, 75), Kevin Doyle (Jon Walters, 53).
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka, Gordon Schildenfeld, Ivan Strinic; Ivan Rakitic (Tomislav Dujmovic, 92), Ognjen Vukojevic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic (Eduardo, 89); Nikica Jelavic (Niko Kranjcar, 72), Mario Mandzukic.
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June 10, 2012 06:31 PM EDT
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