Group C of UEFA Euro 2012 began on 10 June 2012 and ended on 18 June 2012. The pool consisted of defending (and eventual) champion Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland and Croatia. The group was jokingly dubbed the "group of debt" by multiple media outlets, in reference to the European sovereign debt crisis facing some of its members. Spain and Italy progressed to the quarter-finals, while Croatia and Republic of Ireland were eliminated from the tournament. Republic of Ireland equalled the worst performance by a team in the group stage of the European Championships, finishing with no points and a goal difference of −8. Both Spain and Italy made it through the quarter-finals and semi-finals to reach the final for a second meeting in the tournament.
In their final match, the Republic of Ireland wore black armbands to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Loughinisland massacre. This was criticised by some unionists and members of the UVF."Ireland's Euro 2012 armband match tribute to UVF massacre victims slammed". Belfast Telegraph. Brian Rowan. 14 June 2012 Retrieved 19 June 2012 However, the victims' families fully supported the gesture.
Spain, Italy, and Croatia were later drawn in Group B of the UEFA Euro 2024; coincidentally, Croatia would be eliminated in the group while Spain would also go on to win the tournament as well; Republic of Ireland did not qualify for this Euro.
Teams Draw position Team Pot Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance UEFA RankingsNovember 2011 FIFA RankingsJune 2012 C1 1 Group I winner 6 September 2011 9th 2008 Winners (1964, 2008) 1 1 C2 2 Group C winner 6 September 2011 8th 2008 Winners (1968) 4 12 C3 4 Play-off winner 15 November 2011 2nd 1988 Group stage (1988) 14 18 C4 3 Play-off winner 15 November 2011 4th 2008 Quarter-finals (1996, 2008) 7 8
Notes
Standings
In the quarter-finals, The winner of Group C, Spain, advanced to play the runner-up of Group D, France. The runner-up of Group C, Italy, advanced to play the winner of Group D, England.
Matches
Spain vs Italy
GK 1 Iker Casillas (c)RB 17Álvaro Arbeloa CB 3 Gerard PiquéCB 15Sergio RamosLB 18Jordi Alba RM 8 XaviCM 16Sergio BusquetsLM 14Xabi AlonsoRF 21David Silva CF 10Cesc Fàbregas LF 6 Andrés IniestaSubstitutions:MF 22Jesús Navas FW 9 Fernando Torres Manager:Vicente del Bosque GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c)CB 3 Giorgio Chiellini CB 16Daniele De RossiCB 19Leonardo Bonucci RM 13Emanuele GiaccheriniCM 8 Claudio MarchisioCM 21Andrea PirloCM 5 Thiago Motta LM 2 Christian Maggio CF 10Antonio Cassano CF 9 Mario Balotelli Substitutions:FW 11Antonio Di Natale FW 20Sebastian Giovinco MF 23Antonio Nocerino Manager:Cesare Prandelli
Man of the Match: Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
Assistant referees: Gábor Erős (Hungary) György Ring (Hungary) Fourth official: William Collum (Scotland) Additional assistant referees: István Vad (Hungary) Tamás Bognár (Hungary) Reserve assistant referee: Alasdair Ross (Scotland)
Republic of Ireland vs Croatia
GK 1 Shay GivenRB 4 John O'SheaCB 2 Sean St LedgerCB 5 Richard DunneLB 3 Stephen WardCM 6 Glenn WhelanCM 8 Keith Andrews RW 7 Aiden McGeady LW 11Damien DuffCF 9 Kevin Doyle CF 10Robbie Keane (c) Substitutions:FW 14Jonathan Walters FW 20Simon Cox FW 19Shane Long Manager: Giovanni Trapattoni GK 1 Stipe PletikosaRB 11Darijo Srna (c)CB 5 Vedran ĆorlukaCB 13Gordon SchildenfeldLB 2 Ivan StrinićDM 8 Ognjen VukojevićRW 7 Ivan Rakitić AM 10Luka Modrić LW 20Ivan Perišić CF 17Mario MandžukićCF 9 Nikica Jelavić Substitutions:MF 19Niko Kranjčar FW 22Eduardo MF 16Tomislav Dujmović Manager:Slaven Bilić
Man of the Match: Mario Mandžukić (Croatia)
Assistant referees: Sander van Roekel (Netherlands) Erwin Zeinstra (Netherlands) Fourth official: Viktor Shvetsov (Ukraine) Additional assistant referees: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands) Richard Liesveld (Netherlands) Reserve assistant referee: Oleksandr Voytyuk (Ukraine)
Italy vs Croatia
GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c)CB 19Leonardo BonucciCB 16Daniele De RossiCB 3 Giorgio ChielliniRWB 2 Christian MaggioLWB 13Emanuele GiaccheriniDM 21Andrea PirloCM 8 Claudio MarchisioCM 5 Thiago Motta CF 9 Mario Balotelli CF 10Antonio Cassano Substitutions:MF 18Riccardo Montolivo FW 11Antonio Di Natale FW 20Sebastian Giovinco Manager:Cesare Prandelli GK 1 Stipe PletikosaRB 11Darijo Srna (c)CB 5 Vedran ĆorlukaCB 13Gordon Schildenfeld LB 2 Ivan StrinićCM 8 Ognjen VukojevićCM 10Luka ModrićRW 7 Ivan RakitićLW 20Ivan Perišić CF 9 Nikica Jelavić CF 17Mario Mandžukić Substitutions:MF 6 Danijel Pranjić FW 22Eduardo MF 19Niko Kranjčar Manager:Slaven Bilić
Man of the Match: Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Michael Mullarkey (England) Peter Kirkup (England) Fourth official: Pavel Královec (Czech Republic) Additional assistant referees: Martin Atkinson (England) Mark Clattenburg (England) Reserve assistant referee: Roman Slyško (Slovakia)
Spain vs Republic of Ireland
GK 1 Iker Casillas (c)RB 17Álvaro ArbeloaCB 3 Gerard PiquéCB 15Sergio RamosLB 18Jordi AlbaRM 8 XaviCM 16Sergio BusquetsLM 14Xabi Alonso RF 21David SilvaCF 9 Fernando Torres LF 6 Andrés Iniesta Substitutions:DF 4 Javi Martínez MF 10Cesc Fàbregas MF 20Santi Cazorla Manager:Vicente del Bosque GK 1 Shay GivenRB 4 John O'SheaCB 2 Sean St Ledger CB 5 Richard DunneLB 3 Stephen WardRM 11Damien Duff CM 8 Keith AndrewsCM 6 Glenn Whelan LM 7 Aiden McGeadyCF 20Simon Cox CF 10Robbie Keane (c) Substitutions:FW 14Jonathan Walters MF 22James McClean MF 21Paul Green Manager: Giovanni Trapattoni
Man of the Match: Fernando Torres (Spain)
Assistant referees: Bertino Miranda (Portugal) Ricardo Santos (Portugal) Fourth official: Marcin Borski (Poland) Additional assistant referees: Jorge Sousa (Portugal) Duarte Gomes (Portugal) Reserve assistant referee: Marcin Borkowski (Poland)
Croatia vs Spain
GK 1 Stipe PletikosaRB 21Domagoj Vida CB 5 Vedran Ćorluka CB 13Gordon SchildenfeldLB 2 Ivan Strinić CM 8 Ognjen Vukojević CM 7 Ivan Rakitić RW 11Darijo Srna (c) AM 10Luka ModrićLW 6 Danijel Pranjić CF 17Mario Mandžukić Substitutions:MF 20Ivan Perišić FW 9 Nikica Jelavić FW 22Eduardo Manager:Slaven Bilić GK 1 Iker Casillas (c)RB 17Álvaro ArbeloaCB 3 Gerard PiquéCB 15Sergio RamosLB 18Jordi AlbaRM 8 Xavi CM 16Sergio BusquetsLM 14Xabi AlonsoRF 21David Silva CF 9 Fernando Torres LF 6 Andrés IniestaSubstitutions:MF 22Jesús Navas MF 10Cesc Fàbregas FW 11Álvaro Negredo Manager:Vicente del Bosque
Man of the Match: Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
Assistant referees: Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany) Mike Pickel (Germany) Fourth official: Richard Liesveld (Netherlands) Additional assistant referees: Florian Meyer (Germany) Deniz Aytekin (Germany) Reserve assistant referee: Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)
Italy vs Republic of Ireland
GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c) RB 7 Ignazio AbateCB 15Andrea BarzagliCB 3 Giorgio Chiellini LB 6 Federico Balzaretti DM 21Andrea PirloRM 8 Claudio MarchisioCM 5 Thiago MottaLM 16Daniele De Rossi CF 11Antonio Di Natale CF 10Antonio Cassano Substitutions:DF 19Leonardo Bonucci MF 22Alessandro Diamanti FW 9 Mario Balotelli Manager:Cesare Prandelli GK 1 Shay GivenRB 4 John O'Shea CB 5 Richard DunneCB 2 Sean St Ledger LB 3 Stephen WardRM 7 Aiden McGeady CM 6 Glenn WhelanCM 8 Keith Andrews LM 11Damien Duff (c)CF 10Robbie Keane CF 9 Kevin Doyle Substitutions:FW 19Shane Long FW 14Jonathan Walters FW 20Simon Cox Manager: Giovanni Trapattoni
Man of the Match: Antonio Cassano (Italy)
Assistant referees: Bahattin Duran (Turkey) Tarık Ongun (Turkey) Fourth official: Viktor Shvetsov (Ukraine) Additional assistant referees: Hüseyin Göçek (Turkey) Bülent Yıldırım (Turkey) Reserve assistant referee: Oleksandr Voytyuk (Ukraine)
See also Croatia at the UEFA European Championship Italy at the UEFA European Championship Republic of Ireland at the UEFA European Championship Spain at the UEFA European Championship
References
External links UEFA Euro 2012 Group C