City Old Boy Plays In Irish Defeat

Last updated : 10 June 2012 By Covsupport News Service

Former Coventry City forward Robbie Keane played for 74 minutes for the Republic Of Ireland in their Euro 2012 3-1 defeat to Croatia in Poznan.

On a rainy evening, watching Coventry City supporters were feeling that Giovanni Trapattoni would have been better fielding former City keeper Keiren Westwood rather than Aston Villa's Shay Given who should have done better to stop Mario Mandzukic giving Croatia a third minute lead.

Sean St Ledger levelled for the Republic in the 18th minute but Ireland came un-done by two goals in six minutes either side of the interval.

The first came as ireland appealed for offside but as the ball had been played back by an Irish player, Jelavic, who has been a revelation at Everton, nipped in to restore Croatia's lead.

Three minutes in to the second half, Mandzukic rose to get in a header which came off the head of Given and went in.

Robbie Keane was denied a 63rd minute penalty and was replaced in the 74th minute by Shane Long.