Ireland face an uphill task to qualify from their group after a disastrous opening game against Croatia. 
Despite going behind after just three minutes, Ireland battled hard but were up against it against an in-form Croatia side.
Shay Given was left helpless as Madzukic put Croatia in front with a nodded header before the teams even settled down.
Trapp’s men put their heads down however and equalized through a terrific header by Sean St Ledger.
However in the 43rd minute a dubious goal by Jelavic, which looked completely off-side, was allowed to stand.
And when Madzukic netted again after just two minutes of the restart, when his header went into the net when it came off the upright only to go in off Given’s head, it was realistically all over.
Keith Andrews created three good chances in in the last ten minutes which could have put a different complexion on the game but by that stage Croatia were playing down the clock.
Ireland gave the ball away too easily and we were punished for it.
Croatia had the ball for long periods and Ireland could not create enough chances which they could convert.
With Italy and Spain to come, it looks like it will take nothing short of a miracle for Ireland to go through.
