Euro 2012: Counting Down the Men of the Match from Ireland vs Croatia

This is the sixth installment of a tournament-long series in which I pick three men from each team that could contend for Man of the Match honors for each game. The three players from each team will be ranked third place, runner-up and Man of the Match, with a Man of the Match for the whole game being picked at the end. Happy Euros!

The other Group C match, though not as highly touted as the earlier game between Spain and Italy, saw the Republic of Ireland take on Croatia.

With the two international powerhouses drawing in the earlier game, the spoils were up for grabs for both Ireland and Croatia. 

The game was exciting from the start.

Croatia took the early lead on a Mario Mandžukić header in the third minute. Dario Srna crossed from the flank, and, while Mandžukić seemed to slip, he recovered just in time to power the header home.

Croatia led 1-0 early on, and people began to wonder how Ireland was going to get out of the hole.

Their response was quick enough. Ireland won a free kick on the left side on the pitch. Glenn Whelan curled the ball to the far side of the post where Sean St. Ledger, taking advantage of some suspect defending from Vedran Ćorluka, headed the ball past Stipe Pletikosa.

With the score 1-1, the Irish looked like they didn't need luck to contend. 

However, a series of lax defending—and a questionable non-offside call—saw Croatia go ahead three minutes from halftime. Luka Modrić sent a shot in from around 20 yards; the ball bounced around the Irish defense and fell at the mercurial feet of Nikica Jelavić, who lifted the ball over the outstretched body of Shay Given. 

The score would remain 2-1 Croatia going into halftime.

Croatia displayed their relentlessness at the beginning of the first half by scoring within the opening three minutes. Ivan Perišić sent in a cross from the left side of the pitch into the box and Mario Mandžukić, with his second header goal of the game, headed the ball into the far post. Shay Given was a little unlucky to not keep the ball out.

But football is football, and the Croats were now up 3-1. The Irish's mountain got a little bit steeper. 

Ireland still continued to press, though, and had a strong call for a penalty when Robbie Keane was brought down on the edge of the box by a Croatian defender. Keane had his legs taken out from underneath him; it was a clear foul, and Croatia got away with one. 

Keith Andrews missed a sitter of a header in stoppage time, sending a header curling past the far post.

Croatia would take all three points in this one.

Here are my picks for the Men of the Match from the Republic of Ireland vs. Croatia. 

Third Place, Republic of Ireland: Glenn Whelan

Glenn Whelan did a relatively solid job running the left side of the pitch for Ireland, even though Ireland as a whole got outclassed.

He also had the assist on Ireland's only goal of the night, sending in a free kick from the left that Sean St. Ledger latched onto with his head. 

Runner-Up, Republic of Ireland: Sean St. Ledger

Sean St. Ledger got Ireland's only goal on the night, heading in Glenn Whelan's free kick past Stipe Pletikosa.

After his goal, St. Ledger sort of faded from the game, but he'll be remembered by Irish fans as the goal scorer. He didn't pick up Nikica Jelavic on Croatia's second goal, and really didn't contribute much other than his goal.

Man of the Match, Republic of Ireland: Keith Andrews

Keith Andrews had a pretty solid night in Ireland's midfield, doing his best to control the match from the middle of the pitch for the Green Army. 

When Ireland went down 3-1, Andrews was the one who spearheaded the Irish attack, taking a number of opportunities himself and creating numerous chances for his teammates.

Andrews almost pulled a goal back for his side in stoppage time, but his curling header just grazed the wrong side of the far post. 

Andrews embodied the Irish fighting spirit and never gave up. 

Third Place, Croatia: Nikica Jelavić

First off, I would like to say that Croatia has been the most organized and complete side in this tournament so far, and that any member of the Croatian team could have taken any of these spots. 

Nikica Jelavić maintained his scary Everton form by scoring Croatia's second goal on the night with a deft chip over Shay Given. 

The attack he formed with fellow strike partner Mario Mandžukić just overwhelmed the Irish defense as Croatia attacked at will all night. 

No doubt this isn't the last we've seen of Jelavić in this tournament. 

Runner-Up, Croatia: Ivan Perišić

Ivan PeriŠić was a terror for Ireland, constantly cutting through the Irish defense and generally causing a ruckus all over the pitch. 

PeriŠić also provided the cross for Mario Mandžukić's second—Croatia's third—goal, driving the nail through the Irish coffin. 

PeriŠić was all over Ireland today, creating and disrupting like a champ. 

Man of the Match, Croatia: Mario Mandžukić

Mario Mandžukić headed in two goals for Croatia—one of them from practically his knees—and, along with Nikica Jelavic, creating a monster headache for the Irish defense.

Mandžukić was quite simply a boss on the pitch today by drawing fouls, creating chances and getting back to defend—he was a man possessed and was driven to win. 

Expect some of Europe's bigger clubs to come knocking on Wolfsburg's door after the tournament. 

Man of the Match: Mario Mandžukić

Did you really expect anyone else? 

Your Thoughts?

Try as they might, Ireland couldn't get it done against Croatia, and now sits bottom of Group C. Mario Mandžukić takes away Man of the Match honors for the day. 

Who was your Man of the Match? Let me know in the comments section below!

Happy Euros, and cheers!