10.6.12 Croatia v Ireland

As usual, Croatia showed it is a team with much technical ability, but with its usual capacity for moaning and feeling permanently 'victimised' on the pitch.  There is perpetual frustration in any spectacle involving Croatia, because one feels it's "on the verge of kicking off" all the time.

Ireland's style was the same as any match at a weekend in the UK or Ireland, and there was less of the "let's make a million triangles" in the game than any match to date.  Ireland players were prepared to kick the ball upfield and cross into the box, unlike most teams who seem intent on walking the ball into the net.  Ireland winning was always likely to be a long shot; in fact, you could say that losing was a 'Given'.  Ireland cannot really argue at being 3-1 down after three minutes of the second half.  It was a shame that the penalty for the foul on Keane was not awarded - poor decision referee!  That would have made it 3-2 with a successful spot kick.  I wish Bilic would take off that pathetic Nike hat.  I have heard just three names on the Croatian side that do not end in "ic" [itch].  Which "ic" on the pitch scored I don't know.  The referee was weak, and in the spirit of the match, I will label him a bitch.  The person in the crowd with a whistle should have been shot by the police.

I am sure that when the opposition is a bit stronger than this Ireland side, the Croations will display rather more foul play than was necessary tonight.  As for Ireland, the most criminal thing they did was take to the field in those awful socks!

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