Euro 2012 - Group C Omens

Omens, in the grand scheme of things they matter not an iota and yet their importance at times seems invaluable.
 

Yesterday's Euro 2012 draw and the release of the fixtures list has rekindled the memories of one of the greatest nights in Irish football history. On June 18th next, Ireland will clash with Italy in Poznan in what is the final game in Group C. It's a game that could well determine whether or not Ireland are packing their bags for home or making a jaunt across the border to Ukraine for a quarter-final - possibly against England.
 

The game on June 18th will be played 18 years to the day from an epic night in the Giants Stadium, New York when Ireland defeated the Azzuri in their opening game of the 1994 World Cup. The Italians would go onto reach that year's World Cup final (losing to Brazil in the decider on penalties when Roberto Baggio famously blazed over the crossbar), but there was panic in the Italian camp after a shock opening defeat to Jack Charlton's Ireland that night in New York.
 

Just 11 minutes in, Ray Houghton magnificently lobbed over Gianluca Pagliuca to give Ireland a memorable lead - and despite Arrigo Sacchi's side throwing everything at Ireland for the remainder of the game, Paul McGrath led an inspired Ireland to victory on a night when John Sheridan hit the crossbar in the second-half.
 

Since then, Ireland played Italy twice in the qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup and bagged two draws. Robbie Keane earned a late, late draw in Bari, while the Italians grabbed a late equaliser of their own in Croke Park after a Sean St Ledger header, also in the closing stages, almost gave Ireland a win over then then World Champions.
 

Mind you, June 18 also happens to be the anniversary of the day Holland brought an end to Ireland's last European championships - in 1988 they scored a 1-0 win in Gelsenkirchen.
 

Earlier this year, Ireland scored a 2-0 win over Cesere Prandelli's Italy team in a friendly in Liege and despite previously expressing his anxiety about playing his homeland, Trapattoni looked on the
positives following yesterday's draw in Kiev.
 

"I said it would be better not to play them for psychological reasons but I also know them and their players better than most," he said.
 

"We can play against them. We can think about the win over Italy (in Liege in May) and also our performance in Bari. Every 90 minutes is different and it’s important that we have no injuries and a complete squad. Italy is the last game and I hope to come to the last game with some results."
 

To do that, Ireland will have to pick up points against world champions Spain - a task that is enough to send shivers down the spine of some of those whom Trapattoni refers to as 'the famous teams' - or, perhaps more likely, in their opening fixture of the tournament against Croatia.
 

Under Slaven Bilic, the Croats have been steadily improving - to such an extent that they're ranked in the top 10 in the FIFA World Rankings - but a 0-0 draw in Dublin this year has shown that Ireland can be competitive against their opening Group C opponents.
 

Much has changed since Ireland last played the Croats competitively. In September 1999, Ireland lost 1-0 in Zagreb through a late heartbreaker by Davor Suker, with Damien Duff, a sub that day, the
only of the players who featured likely to be on the plane to Poland next summer. Earlier in that campaign, Ireland won 2-0 in Dublin with Denis Irwin and Roy Keane netting - Shay Given, along with Robbie Keane and Duff played that night.
 

Giovanni Trapattoni must shudder at the very mention of Croatia. In the World Cup in 2002, Trap was manager of Italy when they took on Croatia in Ibaraki and looked set to book their passage to the second round when Christian Vieri netted in the second-half. However, Ivica Olic equalised on 73 minutes before Milan Rapaic fired them to a win.
 

It wasn't all as simple as that, however - Trapattoni's side had two goals disallowed that night. While the second could have been justified, as Filippo Inzaghi did appear to tug the shirt of a defender, the first that flagged Vieri offside was an extremely poor call on the part of the linesman and the Italians were left fuming.
 

Trap will be hoping to get one back on Croatia on June 10th next. While Ireland were fortunate with the draw seeing them based in Poland, Trap might well be pleased to have avoided drawing one of the home nations. At that World Cup in 2002, Italy were knocked out in extra time by South Korea, who were also co-hosting a tournament - with Japan. Vieri fired the Italians ahead, but Seol Ki-Hyeon forced extra-time in the 88th minute and Ahn Jung-Hwan headed home a memorable winner to send South Korea spiraling into dreamland - and with Francesco Totti sent off, Trap was left wondering if there had been some conspiracy in the result.
 

Ireland haven't played Spain since a dramatic 2002 World Cup second round game in Suwon. The Spaniards won that game 3-2 on penalties after Robbie Keane netted a late penalty to send the game into extra-time. In 24 previous meetings, Spain have lost just four times and the odds are stacked in their favour.
 

Should Ireland manage to get off to a winning start against Croatia, then they would still be in with a chance of qualifying in that final game against the Italians in Poznan - where someone could have a
chance to etch their name into an epic chapter of Irish football, alongside the likes of Houghton who netted that famous goal in Giants Stadium.


ALL TIME RECORDS

Ireland versus Spain:
Ireland wins - 4
Spain wins - 13
Draws - 7
 

Ireland versus Italy
Ireland wins - 2
Italy wins - 8
Draws - 2
 

Ireland versus Croatia
Ireland wins - 2
Croatia wins - 1
Draws - 3