The Republic of Ireland suffered a losing start to their Euro 2012 Group C campaign as Giovanni Trapattoni's 14-game unbeaten run ended with a 3-1 defeat against Croatia in Poznan on Sunday night.
Wolfsburg striker Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring with a third-minute header and then after Everton's Nikica Jelavic had cancelled out Sean St Ledger's 19th-minute equaliser, saw his second-half attempt come back off the post and end up in of the net after ricocheting off unfortunate keeper Shay Given.
But for all Ireland's industry and endeavour, Slaven Bilic's men were good value for a victory which left them top of Group C following the 1-1 draw between Spain and Italy earlier in the day.
The defeat - just the third competitive reverse during Trapattoni's four-year tenure and the first on foreign soil - means the Republic head into Thursday night's showdown with the Spaniards, reigning world and European champions, knowing their hopes of qualification could effectively be over if they do not come away with at least a point.
Wolfsburg striker Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring with a third-minute header and then after Everton's Nikica Jelavic had cancelled out Sean St Ledger's 19th-minute equaliser, saw his second-half attempt come back off the post and end up in of the net after ricocheting off unfortunate keeper Shay Given.
But for all Ireland's industry and endeavour, Slaven Bilic's men were good value for a victory which left them top of Group C following the 1-1 draw between Spain and Italy earlier in the day.
The defeat - just the third competitive reverse during Trapattoni's four-year tenure and the first on foreign soil - means the Republic head into Thursday night's showdown with the Spaniards, reigning world and European champions, knowing their hopes of qualification could effectively be over if they do not come away with at least a point.