Republic of Ireland V Croatia - Sunday, 10th June 2012 - Euro 2012 Group C

Everything has speeded up now. The nerves have been jangling all week and its not getting any easier the closer we get to the game. Will our midfield hold up? Will we go an early goal up or down? Isn't it great to be back in the big time. Lets do ourselves proud on Sunday and grab the three points. There will be stages of the game when it will be backs to the wall stuff. But we have enough players in our team who can score from set pieces. I would not be at all surprised if a header from Dunne or O'Shea wins this game for us. COME ON IRELAND! COME ON YOU BOYS IN GREEN!

I can't sleep. I've a whole day of work ahead before my flight. Argh.

Come on ireland. Aaaaaaaaargh!!!!!! :)

Ten years we've waited through the Israel matches, the Stan era, not to mention November 18th, 2009. I'm skipping my college graduation to watch this (not sure I'd have been bothered to go anyway) though I have to admit I'm not as excited as I thought I'd be, probably because few people I know know that the Euros are going on and those who do are either going for Spain, Holland, or Germany. Regardless, time for revenge for Davor Suker 1999.

Oh that israeli keeper. i don't think I've ever been as annoyed as the time he got Andy O'Brien sent off.

Yes indeed, time for revenge on Croatia for their nazi past!!! Oh and for Suker in 1999

So nervous now.

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

I can't sleep. I've a whole day of work ahead before my flight. Argh.

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Work, or browsing foot.ie?

btw, if you can bring over a CD of Rocky Road to Poland and any other rabble rousing rubbish we can play in the car.

This feels most like Cameroon in 2002. We were playing a team with a strong reputation but were hard to benchmark. Cameroon were also a mixed bag of genuine quality and relative blandness. We were worried about our midfield without Keane but we had bags of inner belief and resolve. I met Graham Taylor the night before and he had seen Cameroon and thought we had a lot to fear.

Croatia are easier to benchmark but we don't know whether the Croatia that looked pitiful at home to Sweden, ordinary away to Greece or impressive away to Turkey will turn up.

I'm torn. I always believe but I'm also worried that things just won't go for us.

38-year-old Dutchman Bjorn Kuipers will referee Sunday's Group C clash in Poznan

He did our home game against Estonia. I hope we treated him well.

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Originally Posted by geysir

He did our home game against Estonia. I hope we treated him well.

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i'd say he was impressed by our paper airplane making abilities

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Work, or browsing foot.ie?

btw, if you can bring over a CD of Rocky Road to Poland and any other rabble rousing rubbish we can play in the car.

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Will do. I'll check at lunch.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Work, or browsing foot.ie?

btw, if you can bring over a CD of Rocky Road to Poland and any other rabble rousing rubbish we can play in the car.

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If I were you, if he were to bring that CD I would abandon him in the Polish hinterlands.

We were thinking of doing that regardless

They had an impressive group campaign in '08 winning all their group games. Bit of a surprise at the time they got knocked by Turkey in the quarters.

An equaliser in the last seconds of that game, did come as a bit of a surprise in a game they had done all but won.

Team just named and as expected. Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward
Duff, Whelan, Andrews, McGeady
Doyle and Keane

Can... not... wait. 10 yrs. Time to write some new memories!!!

Was just reading on ESPN about Croatia:

"By contrast, the defense is seen as slightly shaky. Players like Domagoj Vida and Ivan Strinic have yet to prove themselves on the big stage, while Josip Simunic, at 34, has started to show signs of wear and tear. Though he's a proven tournament player and just a handful of caps away from making his 100th appearance for Croatia, Simunic may not even make the starting lineup on Sunday."

We need Duff and McGeady at their best, and Keane and Doyle sharp when the opportunities come. Their biggest weakness is at the back, it's not our game but we need to apply as much pressure as possible.

"Ireland are not a top team. I know everything about them" Bilic today. Keep them coming Slavin.

Hopefully he eats those words.

Where are you watching tomorrow Boysingreen?