Republic of Ireland v Croatia: live But is has been covered extremely touchingly by a class of Thai schoolchildren: 18.15 Evening liveblog fans. And so Euro 2012 welcomes the Republic of Ireland, who I am contractually obliged to refer to as "everyone's second team." The goodwill that accumulates from having a natty green shirt, fans that are loud and pleasant and a team/community/national reputation for "partying" won't be much good in an international tournament on its own. Fortunately Ireland also have Giovanni Trapattoni, a man who has led his side through a 14-game unbeaten run. This is quite something. My non-football-loving housemate was perusing my Panini sitcker album the other night. When she reached the Ireland team she said "they all just look like blokes from down the pub." That would be correct, if it was one of those unusual pubs that won't allow anyone in if they're playing for one of the top 200 football clubs in the world. Your Aston Villas, your Stoke Cities, your Wolverhampton Wanderers, your Fulhams. These are the sides that have contributed most to this Irish squad and you've got to be slightly concerned about their future in this tournament, especially with Italy and Spain coming up next. It is Croatia (who are more about your Shakhtar Donetsks and your Dinamo Zagrebs) who lie in wait this evening. They have Luka Modric, Nikica Jelavić and a frequently excellent coach in Slaven Bilic. They're pretty good. Ireland are pretty good at grinding out results. How will it pan out? Everyone's second-favourite liveblogger will tell you all about it. Team news and Corrs videos to follow, stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy a lovely preview: Robbie Keane has insisted the Republic of Ireland can upset the odds and reach the Euro 2012 knockout stages after he claimed Giovanni Trapattoni's players have dragged the country "off its knees" by qualifying for the tournament. The Irish begin their Group C campaign against Croatia in Poznan on Sunday evening before they face the heavyweights of Spain and Italy in their final two games. But despite their underdog billing, Ireland go into the Croatia clash on the back of a 14-game unbeaten run. With Euro 2012 qualification coinciding with the severe financial crisis in Ireland that has led to a sharp rise in unemployment in the country, Keane admits that there is a determination in the squad to sustain the football-related feel-good factor. It has been a difficult ten years for the country since we last played in a major tournament in 2002. The country has been on its knees for a few years, so it is great for us as players to change that.