Rep Ireland 0 - 0 Croatia
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Ireland continued their preparation for the resumption of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a competent performance to draw 0-0 with a talented Croatian side at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night.
Both Giovanni Trapattoni and Croatia manager Slaven BIlic will be pleased with the test the match gave their sides, but neither team ever really got out of first gear tonight.
Ireland had a bright start but Robbie Keane should have made more of his chance on five minutes. Damien Duff surged down the wing and played the ball into Keane's feet, allowing the Ireland captain to burst through and shoot. Keane's shot was tame though and easily claimed by Croatian 'keeper Stipe Pletikosa.
Croatia's lone striker Eduardo Da Silva headed towards the bottom-left corner on 14 minutes, but Shane Long cleared the ball away before it could roll in, averting an almost certain goal with Shay Given out of position.
Ten minutes later Long went from sparing Ireland's blushes to almost opening the scoring. Damien Duff probed down the wing before passing back for Glenn Whelan to cross. Shane Long out-jumped two Croatian defenders to head the ball against the ground but Pletikosa gathered it easily.
Slaven Bilic's side were impressive in their dominance of possession. Spurs duo Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar moved superbly off the ball, drifting around the midfield into positions that allowed them to create chances.
Eight minutes before the break Kranjcar had a good opportunity himself for the Croats. After a superb flowing move of slick passes Darijo Srna put a low cross in to the Spurs midfielder about five yards from goal. Kranjcar's shot was too high though and the ball ended up well over its intended destination.
Robbie Keane turned outside Croatian defender Dejan Lovren on 44 minutes before shooting straight at Pletikosa. A corner seconds later was put in well by Damien Duff only for Sean St. Ledger to head wide from a good position.
Luka Modric showed no signs of the uncertainty surrounding his future at Spurs distracting him. He was never long off the ball and, on 53 minutes, almost scored a majestic goal. Clubmate Vedran Corluka put an accurate cross in to the box prompting Modric to attempt an audacious overhead kick which was ultimately well wide.
Two minutes later Croatia went closer again. A Darron Gibson foul gave Croatia a free-kick in a seemingly harmless position about 45 yards from goal. Srna swung the ball dangerously in to the Irish box and Dejan Lovren headed just wide.
Ireland gradually began to look like more of a threat to Croatia, particularly from set-pieces and on the counter-attack. An Irish corner was cleared hurriedly on 73 minutes and found Darron Gibson of Manchester United 30 yards from goal in a central position. Gibson spread the ball wide to Sean St.Ledger, whose high cross found the leaping Richard Dunne. But, in what was a familar sight for Irish fans on the night, Dunne headed just wide.
But in truth, Croatia were a class apart on the ball and were the dominant side for most of the match. But they didn't make the most of their many chances, one of the latest coming after 83 minutes. Nikola Kalinic played the ball across the outside of the Irish box to Croatian captain Darijo Srna. Srna shot powerfully from a wide position on Kieran Westwood's left flank but the Irish keeper was equal to his low shot.
Ireland: Shay Given [Kieran Westwood '64]; Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ward, Sean St. Ledger, Richard Dunne; Stephen Hunt [Andy Keogh '64], Glenn Whelan [Darren O'Dea '73], Darron Gibson, Damien Duff [Keith Treacy '83]; Shane Long [Simon Cox '83], Robbie Keane (Captain).
Unused Subs: David Forde, Ciaran Clark, Conor Clifford.
Yellow Cards: Darron Gibson.
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Ivan Strinic, Josip Simunic, Dejan Lovren, Vedran Corluka [Sime Vrsaljko '73]; Odnjen Vukojevic [ Tomislav Dujmovic '86], Luka Modric, Darijo Srna, Mario Mandzukic [Nikola Kalinic '73], Niko Kranjcar [ Ivo Ilicevic '64], Eduardo Da Silva [Ivica Olic HT].
Unused Subs: Danijel Subasic, Danijel Pranjic, Ian Perisic, Dordon Schildenfeld, Mladen Petric.
Yellow Cards: Odnjen Vukojevic.
Referee: Tom Harold Hagen (Norway).
Attendance: 20,000 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Luka Modric.
Both Giovanni Trapattoni and Croatia manager Slaven BIlic will be pleased with the test the match gave their sides, but neither team ever really got out of first gear tonight.
Ireland had a bright start but Robbie Keane should have made more of his chance on five minutes. Damien Duff surged down the wing and played the ball into Keane's feet, allowing the Ireland captain to burst through and shoot. Keane's shot was tame though and easily claimed by Croatian 'keeper Stipe Pletikosa.
Croatia's lone striker Eduardo Da Silva headed towards the bottom-left corner on 14 minutes, but Shane Long cleared the ball away before it could roll in, averting an almost certain goal with Shay Given out of position.
Ten minutes later Long went from sparing Ireland's blushes to almost opening the scoring. Damien Duff probed down the wing before passing back for Glenn Whelan to cross. Shane Long out-jumped two Croatian defenders to head the ball against the ground but Pletikosa gathered it easily.
Slaven Bilic's side were impressive in their dominance of possession. Spurs duo Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar moved superbly off the ball, drifting around the midfield into positions that allowed them to create chances.
Eight minutes before the break Kranjcar had a good opportunity himself for the Croats. After a superb flowing move of slick passes Darijo Srna put a low cross in to the Spurs midfielder about five yards from goal. Kranjcar's shot was too high though and the ball ended up well over its intended destination.
Robbie Keane turned outside Croatian defender Dejan Lovren on 44 minutes before shooting straight at Pletikosa. A corner seconds later was put in well by Damien Duff only for Sean St. Ledger to head wide from a good position.
Luka Modric showed no signs of the uncertainty surrounding his future at Spurs distracting him. He was never long off the ball and, on 53 minutes, almost scored a majestic goal. Clubmate Vedran Corluka put an accurate cross in to the box prompting Modric to attempt an audacious overhead kick which was ultimately well wide.
Two minutes later Croatia went closer again. A Darron Gibson foul gave Croatia a free-kick in a seemingly harmless position about 45 yards from goal. Srna swung the ball dangerously in to the Irish box and Dejan Lovren headed just wide.
Ireland gradually began to look like more of a threat to Croatia, particularly from set-pieces and on the counter-attack. An Irish corner was cleared hurriedly on 73 minutes and found Darron Gibson of Manchester United 30 yards from goal in a central position. Gibson spread the ball wide to Sean St.Ledger, whose high cross found the leaping Richard Dunne. But, in what was a familar sight for Irish fans on the night, Dunne headed just wide.
But in truth, Croatia were a class apart on the ball and were the dominant side for most of the match. But they didn't make the most of their many chances, one of the latest coming after 83 minutes. Nikola Kalinic played the ball across the outside of the Irish box to Croatian captain Darijo Srna. Srna shot powerfully from a wide position on Kieran Westwood's left flank but the Irish keeper was equal to his low shot.
Ireland: Shay Given [Kieran Westwood '64]; Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ward, Sean St. Ledger, Richard Dunne; Stephen Hunt [Andy Keogh '64], Glenn Whelan [Darren O'Dea '73], Darron Gibson, Damien Duff [Keith Treacy '83]; Shane Long [Simon Cox '83], Robbie Keane (Captain).
Unused Subs: David Forde, Ciaran Clark, Conor Clifford.
Yellow Cards: Darron Gibson.
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Ivan Strinic, Josip Simunic, Dejan Lovren, Vedran Corluka [Sime Vrsaljko '73]; Odnjen Vukojevic [ Tomislav Dujmovic '86], Luka Modric, Darijo Srna, Mario Mandzukic [Nikola Kalinic '73], Niko Kranjcar [ Ivo Ilicevic '64], Eduardo Da Silva [Ivica Olic HT].
Unused Subs: Danijel Subasic, Danijel Pranjic, Ian Perisic, Dordon Schildenfeld, Mladen Petric.
Yellow Cards: Odnjen Vukojevic.
Referee: Tom Harold Hagen (Norway).
Attendance: 20,000 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Luka Modric.
About Niall Farrell
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