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Played
June 14, 2012 7:45 PM BST
PGE Arena Gdańsk — Gdańsk
Referee: Pedro Proença
Attendance: 39150
June 14, 2012 7:45 PM BST
PGE Arena Gdańsk — Gdańsk
Referee: Pedro Proença
Attendance: 39150
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| Spain | 1.25 | 1.00 | 1.29 | 1.22 | 1.25 | 1.04 | 1.24 | 1.24 |
| Draw | 5.00 | 61.00 | 5.50 | 6.50 | 6.00 | 12.00 | 6.15 | 6.50 |
| Ireland | 15.00 | 81.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 14.00 | 40.00 | 15.50 | 12.49 |
Spain - Republic of Ireland Preview: Holders target first win at Euro 2012 against Trapattoni's men
The Irish are precariously placed bottom of Group C and need a victory against Vicente del Bosque's side to keep their tournament hopes alive
By Martin Macdonald
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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SPAIN
 Casillas Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba Busquets, Xabi Alonso Silva, Xavi, Iniesta Torres |
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
 Given O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward Duff, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady Keane, Long |
Vicente del Bosque has come under criticism for his decision not to field a recognised striker in the opening match against Italy, which left Spain without a focal point to channel their attacks.
It is likely the Spaniard will opt to play with a forward in the central role against Ireland, with Fernando Torres in line to be given the nod ahead of Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, despite missing two good chances to defeat the Azzurri after coming off the bench on Sunday.
Cesc Fabregas will make way for Torres in the starting XI, as the 25-year-old may not be fully fit after carrying a thigh injury into the tournament.
Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique will continue their partnership in defence in the absence of Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, who misses the championship after knee surgery.
Ireland have some slight injury worries going into the match against the current European champions. Richard Dunne is suffering from blisters and fatigue after the 3-1 defeat to Croatia, although the central defender will play through the pain barrier to partner Sean St Ledger in defence.
Shay Given and Darron Gibson also missed training early in the week but head coach Giovanni Trapattoni has stated that the pair are fit and ready to play. Shane Long is also in contention to start.
James McClean may also feel aggrieved not to have featured against Croatia in the opening match, but Trapattoni has spoken of not putting too much immediate pressure on the 23-year-old in the tournament, so if he does play it will likely be as a substitute.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- The last encounter between Spain and Ireland was in the 2002 World Cup. The last-16 match finished in a 1-1 draw, but the Spaniards managed to qualify for the next stage by winning 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out.
- Spain's draw with Italy in the opening match of Group C ended their run of 14 straight competitive victories, with their last defeat coming at the hands of Switzerland in the 2010 World Cup.
- The reigning world and European champions have not missed a major finals tournament since the 1992 European Championship.
- Vicente del Bosque's side made 672 completed passes on matchday one, compared to Italy's 341.
- Ireland are making their first appearance in a European Championship finals since making their debut in the 1988 event in West Germany.
- The Republic of Ireland had gone 14 matches unbeaten, since a 3-2 loss to Uruguay, before the reverse to Croatia on matchday one.
- Aiden McGeady won his 50th cap against the Croatians; Kevin Doyle could reach his half-century versus Spain.
- Sean St Ledger has scored three international goals for Ireland, including the header against Croatia. However, none of these goals resulted in a victory for the Irish.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Spain 3-0 Ireland
- 23.39 %
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Spain 2-0 Ireland
- 16.58 %
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Spain 3-1 Ireland
- 10.24 %
| Euro 2012 (EC) | Jun 14, 2012 | Spain 4 - Ireland 0 |
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Spain
    |
||
| Mar 26, 2013 | France 0 - Spain 1 | WCQ |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Spain 1 - Finland 1 | WCQ |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Spain 3 - Uruguay 1 | FR |
| Nov 14, 2012 | Panama 1 - Spain 5 | FR |
| Oct 16, 2012 | Spain 1 - France 1 | WCQ |
Ireland
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| Mar 26, 2013 | Ireland 2 - Austria 2 | WCQ |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Sweden 0 - Ireland 0 | WCQ |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Ireland 2 - Poland 0 | FR |
| Nov 14, 2012 | Ireland 0 - Greece 1 | FR |
| Oct 16, 2012 | Faroe Islands 1 - Ireland 4 | WCQ |
| Returns: | Spain £12.86 |
|
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets | |
| Returns: | Draw £610.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 | |
| Returns: | Ireland £810.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
| - | Iker Casillas | |
| 3 | Piqué | Defender |
| 15 | Sergio Ramos | Defender |
| 17 | Arbeloa | Defender |
| 18 | Jordi Alba | Defender |
| 6 | Andrés Iniesta Luján | Midfielder |
| 8 | Xavi | Midfielder |
| 14 | Xabi Alonso | Midfielder |
| 16 | Busquets | Midfielder |
| 21 | David Silva | Midfielder |
| - | Fernando Torres | |
| 12 | Víctor Valdés | Goalkeeper |
| 23 | José Reina Paez | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Raúl Albiol Tortajada | Defender |
| - | Juanfran | |
| - | Javi Martínez | Midfielder |
| 10 | Cesc Fàbregas | Midfielder |
| 20 | Santi Cazorla | Midfielder |
| 22 | Jesús Navas González | Midfielder |
| 7 | Pedro | Striker |
| 11 | Negredo | Striker |
| 13 | Juan Mata | Striker |
| - | Fernando Llorente |
| - | Shay Given | |
| 2 | Sean St Ledger | Defender |
| - | Stephen Ward | |
| 4 | John O'Shea | Defender |
| - | Richard Dunne | |
| 6 | Glenn Whelan | Midfielder |
| - | Aiden McGeady | |
| - | Keith Andrews | |
| - | Damien Duff | |
| 10 | Robbie Keane | Striker |
| 20 | Simon Cox | Striker |
| 16 | Keiren Westwood | Goalkeeper |
| 23 | David Forde | Goalkeeper |
| 12 | Stephen Kelly | Defender |
| - | Paul McShane | |
| 18 | Darren O'Dea | Defender |
| - | Darron Gibson | |
| - | Stephen Hunt | |
| 21 | Paul Green | Midfielder |
| 22 | James McClean | Midfielder |
| 9 | Kevin Doyle | Striker |
| 14 | Jonathan Walters | Striker |
| 19 | Shane Long | Striker |
| Andrés Iniesta Luján | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 6 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Spain's most impressive player in the last match and the man who looked most likely to cause the Italian defence problems. Expect Iniesta to drift into pockets of space in front of the Ireland defence and be a massive danger with the ball at this feet.
| Robbie Keane | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 10 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Ireland's talisman may be getting on in years now but he will need to come out of his shell if he is pose a threat to Spain. Keane was ineffective against Croatia so he must aim to provide more movement in the box and link up better with strike partner, Kevin Doyle.
Spain go into this match as massive favourites to take three points and Ireland will make it all too easy if they defend in the same manner as they did against Croatia. The high tempo movement in the penalty area by the Spain attackers will prove too much for the Irish so expect a comfortable victory for Vicente Del Bosque's side. Giovanni Trapattoni's rigid formation and the likely negative play from the Republic of Ireland are probably the only factors that will keep the score respectable.
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fernando Torres Striker Chelsea |
3 | 0 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
3 | 0 |
|
Mario Gomez Striker Bayern |
3 | 0 |
|
Mario Balotelli Striker Milan |
3 | 0 |
|
Mario Mandzukic Striker Bayern |
3 | 0 |
