EURO 2ND DAY SPAIN 1 ITALY 1

reland 1 Croatia 3: No luck for Trap's men after offside and an own goal

Mario Mandzukic ripped the Republic of Ireland's hopes of a winning start to Euro 2012 apart as Giovanni Trapattoni's 14-game unbeaten run ended in Poznan.

The Hamburg striker 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.

Out of luck: Robbie Keane looks dejected as Ireland fall behind in their first game

MATCH FACTS:

Rep of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, St. Ledger, Dunne, Ward, McGeady (Cox 54), Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Doyle (Walters 53), Keane (Long 75).
Subs Not Used: Westwood, Kelly, McShane, Gibson, Hunt, O'Dea,Green, McClean, Forde.
Booked: Andrews.
Goal: St. Ledger 19.
Croatia: Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic, Vukojevic, Rakitic (Dujmovic 90), Modric, Perisic (Eduardo 89), Mandzukic, Jelavic (Kranjcar 72).
Subs Not Used: Kelava, Simunic, Buljat, Pranjic, Badelj, Vrsaljko, Kalinic, Vida, Subasic.
Booked: Modric, Kranjcar.
Goals: Mandzukic 3, Jelavic 43, Given 49 og.
Attendance: 43,200
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland).

 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.

Resilience has been the keyword for the 73-year-old Italian since he accepted the challenge of trying to restore Ireland's fortunes, but while there was no shortage of willingness for the fight, Croatia simply had too much quality, and were ruthless enough to accept the slices of good fortune which came their way.

Ireland emerged from the tunnel before kick-off to be greeted by a sea of green and a torrent of noise as they embarked upon their first game at the European Championship finals for 24 years.
But within three minutes, a sizeable proportion of the hope and expectation which has mounted since qualification via the play-offs in November last year had evaporated.

Croatia started much the better and received their reward when captain Darijo Srna's right-wing cross clipped full-back Stephen Ward and sat up for Mandzukic.

The striker had slipped as Srna prepared to deliver, but managed to right himself and head towards the bottom corner.

Early lead: Mario Mandzukic celebrates putting Croatia ahead

No stopping that one: Shay Given can't get to the ball to prevent it going in

His effort looked to lack power, but Given, whose fitness had been a major talking point for the previous three weeks, just could not get to the ball in time.

Bilic's men scented victory as Mandzukic and strike-partner Jelavic repeatedly stretched Richard Dunne and St Ledger at the heart of Ireland's defence, the signs were ominous.

Full-backs Srna and Ivan Strinic repeatedly made their way forward to occupy wingers Aiden McGeady and Damien Duff in areas of the pitch where they would rather not have been, and with Luka Modric starting to pull the strings in the middle of the field, Ireland were desperately in need of inspiration.

It arrived, firstly in the shape of striker Kevin Doyle and then St Ledger with 19 minutes gone.
The combative Doyle was giving Corluka a torrid time and forced the Tottenham defender to concede one of a series of free-kicks.

All square: Sean St Ledger heads Ireland level

Back in the game: The Ireland players celebrate with St Ledger

McGeady's delivery to the far post was firm and true and with Corluka out of position, St Ledger crept in front of him to head the Republic level from close range.

The noise which erupted as the ball hit the back of the net was phenomenal and roared on by the bulk of a crowd of 39,550, Ireland started to make a game of it.

Given dispelled any fears of his health with a fine diving save from Ivan Perisic's firmly-struck 22nd-minute shot, and he was grateful to see the same man thump a dipping volley wide nine minutes before the break.

Neat finish: Croatia's Nikica Jelavic chips the ball over Given

Spain 1 Italy 1: Fabregas saves trophy holders as Azzurri prove tough nut to crack

Fernando Torres fluffed two late chances as Spain's hopes of making a winning start to Euro 2012 foundered against Italy in Gdansk on Sunday.

Torres, who has endured a wretched period at Chelsea since joining from Liverpool in January 2011, was sent on by Vicente Del Bosque shortly after Cesc Fabregas cancelled out Antonio Di Natale's opener.

But he could not conjure up a winner as the opening match in Group C ended all square.

Took their time: Spain equalised through Cesc Fabregas

Tidy: Fabregas tucked the ball home

MATCH FACTS

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva (Jesus Navas 65), Fabregas (Torres 74),
Iniesta

Subs Not Used: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Reina
Booked: Jordi Alba, Arbeloa, Torres

Goals: Fabregas 64

Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, De Rossi, Bonucci, Giaccherni, Marchisio, Pirlo, Thiago Motta (Nocerino 89), Maggio, Cassano (Giovinco 65), Balotelli (Di Natale 56)
Subs Not Used: Sirigu, Ogbonna Obienza, Balzaretti, Abate, Barzagli, Borini, Montolivo, Diamanti, De Sanctis
Booked: Balotelli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Maggio

Goals: Di Natale 60

Att: 43,615
Ref: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Del Bosque opted to utilise the 'false number nine' formation which saw them line-up without a recognised striker and although there were moments of promise from offensive midfielders Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and David Silva, Spain lacked a focal point until Torres' introduction after 74 minutes.

Silva fired a ninth-minute drive over the bar from 25 yards and the Manchester City man drew an 11th-minute save from Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after a swift break from Iniesta.

But the Azzurri's impressive trio of central defenders, Daniele De Rossi, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, managed to snuff out the rest of Spain's forays forward in a cagey opening period.

At the other end, Italy, inspired by the impressive Antonio Cassano, offered a genuine goal threat.

Andrea Pirlo saw a free-kick saved by Iker Casillas, who then denied Cassano and Claudio Marchisio, whose blistering volley would surely have gone in had it not been straight at the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

First-half injury-time saw both sides create their best chances of the period.

Opener: Antonio Di Natale broke the deadlock

A typically incisive through-ball from Xavi presented a wonderful opportunity for Barcelona team-mate Iniesta but his first touch was uncharacteristically poor, meaning his second only resulted in a tame volleyed lob over the bar.

And then, Cassano escaped down the right and whipped in a wonderful cross for Thiago Motta, whose header was superbly palmed to safety by Casillas.

Good work: Di Natale is congratulated

The Spanish came out with greater verve after the break and Buffon twice had to make smart saves, the first from Fabregas and the second a stunner to deny Iniesta.

But Italy were still causing headaches for Del Bosque's men in defence.

Frustrated: Mario Balotelli missed a glorious opportunity by dilly-dallying with the ball

Mess: Fernando Torres made a hash of his chances