Group C, where Irish eyes won't be smiling

Looking at Group C at Euro 2012, a group that see's the holders Spain, Italy, Croatia and Republic of Ireland competing and presuming Spain will win the group, the battle for second spot could be very interesting though a step too far for Ireland.

Croatia

   Since the Kovac brothers, Robert and Niko, have retired, Croatia (I asked a couple of mates where I should go in Croatia, opinions were Split) have struggled somewhat with replacing them. They will struggle in defence though over the past 16 years Croatia have always over-relied on key players and those players have always performed for their country so Tottenham Hotspur's midfielder Luka Modric will have a lot of responsibility, he will be the creative spark for his side though it remains to be seen if the likes Shaktyr Donetsk's Eduardo or Everton's Nikica Jelavic will be able to score the goals to make them a force.
  Key player - Luka Modric, he is easily one of the best midfielders in the English Premier League and had Chelsea (possibly after John Terry heard Modric has a nice wife) trying to sign him all last summer and it seems Manchester United will be after his services this summer. He led Tottenham to a 4th place finish last season, only missing out on Champions League football as Chelsea won the trophy. In Euro 2008 he was picked in the team of the tournament and aged just 26, he will strive to get the best out of this Croatia side.
  Prediction - With coach Slavan Bilic stepping down after 6 years in charge to go to Lokomotiv Moscow after the games, I feel Croatian minds won't be fully on the job at hand and will look good and play well but not make it out of the group stages



Italy
 Under coach Cesare Prandelli, Italy have made a huge effort to change their style of play, no longer are they a negative, defence minded team that look t counter attack. They play a style that imposes themselves on the opponents, they have a keep-possession mentality based around the likes of Juventus' Andrea Pirlo and Roma's Daniele De Rossi controlling the play and with players like Ricardo Montolivio running off them. Italy haven't got a great deal of experience in goalscorers, to date only 2 players have scored double figures for the 'azzuro', De Rossi with 10 in 72 games and Udinese's Antonio Di Natale, the striker having scored 10 in 37 games.
   Key player - Antonio Cassano, AC Milan's striker was left out of squads by previous manager Marcello Lippi but under Prandelli, he has more assists than goals but this could be a tournament where he finds his scoring boots and makes the Italian no. 9 shirt his own.
   Prediction - They'll edge qualification from the group but will fall in either the quart-finals or the finals

   
Republic Of Ireland
  Unfairly missing out on the World Cup 2 years ago thanks to Thierry Henry's handball in the playoffs, Ireland haven't let this effect them with dropping their heads, instead they have maintained a good record in qualifying and are a tough side for anyone to beat, reflected by being ranked 18th in the world right now. Giovanni Trapattoni is one of the most celebrated managers in football history and at 73 he must be closing in on retirement but getting Ireland (the only country where dialing a phone number can end in tree sex) to qualify for this tournament will matter just as much as league and European trophies he won at club level. LA Galaxy's Robbie Keane continues to be the focal point of attack, he has now scored 53 goals in 117 games and will look to add to that total over the next few weeks. Ireland don't' rely on individuals, they play as a unit, they keep to their positions and stifle the opposition and have vast experience with the likes of Sunderland's John O'Shea Fulham midfielder Damien Duff. The Irish always have huge support in any tournament and it's believed of all the travelling sides, they will have the most fans cheering them on so each match will ahve a great atmosphere. Expect Ireland to ruffle some feathers and to go down fighting.
  Key player - Robbie Keane, the veteran striker is the spearhead of any Irish attack and if he's missing Ireland don't pose that same threat
  Prediction - In a group with Spain and Italy, Ireland could be fighting it out with Croatia for rd spot, they have nothing to lose though so don't be surprised to see them cause an upset somewhere.


Spain
   Where do you start with the current Europe and World champions? they currently hold those titles and are favourites to retain this summer for a reason, they are outstanding. They have so much experience, amongst the 23 man squad there have been over 1000 caps which averages out at over 44 appearances each. With Real Madrid's Iker Casillas in goal and Sergio Ramos in defence and the Barcelona players Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas and Chelsea's Fernando Torres up front, this team oozes class and has strength in depth in all positions.
  Key player - Xavi, the Barcelona midfielder will constantly play his team out of trouble, his eye for a pass can carve any side open and simply dominates matches
   Prediction - Spain will be disappointed if they don't make the final, possibly playing England or France once out of the group, they could be the first nation to win 3 international tournaments in a row (John Terry has written to Spain, Germany, Holland, France and 5 other countries to be sure asking to join their celebrations if they win Euro 2012)