Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland prides itself on defensive organisation but there was little of it against Croatia. The first two goals conceded were pretty soft and there was a hint of misfortune about the third.
Slaven Bilic's system was a 4-1-3-2, with Ognjen Vukovejic sitting in front of the defence. The experienced Darijo Srna played the qualifiers on the right side of midfield but he switched to right-back here and was quite effective for it. He and Ivan Rakitic combined well, troubling Ireland on its left flank. Luka Modric was at his best in midfield, drifting in and out, constantly probing. Strikers Mario Mandzukic and Nikica Jelavic were good off the ball too, pressing Ireland's defenders high up the pitch.
The Irish played their standard 4-4-2 (with Keane dropping off Doyle) and did, true to strength, score off a set-piece. Unfortunately, they proved equally weak at defending them. With Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews in the middle of midfield, supply to the strikers was always going to have to come from the flanks. And there wasn't enough from Aiden McGeady or Damien Duff. James McLean should have been given a chance but Trapattoni is known to be intransigent. It also didn't help that the defence sat deep, allowing Mandzukic and Jelavic a lot of freedom. Croatia definitely had the better pedigree of players but Ireland will be disappointed with its avoidable defensive lapses.
