UEFA Euro 2012 Group C

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.^[1]^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[4] However, the victims' families fully supported the gesture.^[4]

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.

More information Draw position, Team ...

Draw position	Team	Pot	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Finals appearance	Last appearance	Previous best performance	UEFA Rankings November 2011^{[nb 1]}	FIFA Rankings June 2012
C1	Spain	1	Group I winner	6 September 2011	9th	2008	Winners (1964, 2008)	1	1
C2	Italy	2	Group C winner	6 September 2011	8th	2008	Winners (1968)	4	12
C3	Republic of Ireland	4	Play-off winner	15 November 2011	2nd	1988	Group stage (1988)	14	18
C4	Croatia	3	Play-off winner	15 November 2011	4th	2008	Quarter-finals (1996, 2008)	7	8

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Notes

[N 1]
The UEFA rankings of November 2011 were used for seeding for the final draw.

More information Pos, Team ...

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Spain	3	2	1	0	6	1	+5	7	Advance to knockout stage
2	Italy	3	1	2	0	4	2	+2	5	Advance to knockout stage
3	Croatia	3	1	1	1	4	3	+1	4
4	Republic of Ireland	3	0	0	3	1	9	−8	0

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Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

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.

Spain vs Italy

More information Spain, 1–1 ...

Spain	1–1	Italy
Fàbregas 64'	Report	Di Natale 61'

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10 June 2012

18:00

PGE Arena, Gdańsk

Attendance: 38,869^[5]

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Spain^[6]

Italy^[6]


GK	1	Iker Casillas (c)
RB	17	Álvaro Arbeloa	84'
CB	3	Gerard Piqué
CB	15	Sergio Ramos
LB	18	Jordi Alba	66'
RM	8	Xavi
CM	16	Sergio Busquets
LM	14	Xabi Alonso
RF	21	David Silva		64'
CF	10	Cesc Fàbregas		74'
LF	6	Andrés Iniesta
Substitutions:
MF	22	Jesús Navas		64'
FW	9	Fernando Torres	84'	74'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque


GK	1	Gianluigi Buffon (c)
CB	3	Giorgio Chiellini	79'
CB	16	Daniele De Rossi
CB	19	Leonardo Bonucci	66'
RM	13	Emanuele Giaccherini
CM	8	Claudio Marchisio
CM	21	Andrea Pirlo
CM	5	Thiago Motta		90'
LM	2	Christian Maggio	89'
CF	10	Antonio Cassano		65'
CF	9	Mario Balotelli	37'	56'
Substitutions:
FW	11	Antonio Di Natale		56'
FW	20	Sebastian Giovinco		65'
MF	23	Antonio Nocerino		90'
Manager:
Cesare Prandelli

Man of the Match:
Andrés Iniesta (Spain)^[5]

Assistant referees:^[7]
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

More information Republic of Ireland, 1–3 ...

Republic of Ireland	1–3	Croatia
St Ledger 19'	Report	Mandžukić 3', 49' Jelavić 43'

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10 June 2012

20:45

Stadion Miejski, Poznań

Attendance: 39,550^[8]

Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)

Republic of Ireland^[9]

Croatia^[9]


GK	1	Shay Given
RB	4	John O'Shea
CB	2	Sean St Ledger
CB	5	Richard Dunne
LB	3	Stephen Ward
CM	6	Glenn Whelan
CM	8	Keith Andrews	45+1'
RW	7	Aiden McGeady		54'
LW	11	Damien Duff
CF	9	Kevin Doyle		53'
CF	10	Robbie Keane (c)		75'
Substitutions:
FW	14	Jonathan Walters		53'
FW	20	Simon Cox		54'
FW	19	Shane Long		75'
Manager:
Giovanni Trapattoni


GK	1	Stipe Pletikosa
RB	11	Darijo Srna (c)
CB	5	Vedran Ćorluka
CB	13	Gordon Schildenfeld
LB	2	Ivan Strinić
DM	8	Ognjen Vukojević
RW	7	Ivan Rakitić		90+2'
AM	10	Luka Modrić	53'
LW	20	Ivan Perišić		89'
CF	17	Mario Mandžukić
CF	9	Nikica Jelavić		72'
Substitutions:
MF	19	Niko Kranjčar	84'	72'
FW	22	Eduardo		89'
MF	16	Tomislav Dujmović		90+2'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić

Man of the Match:
Mario Mandžukić (Croatia)^[8]

Assistant referees:^[10]
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

More information Italy, 1–1 ...

Italy	1–1	Croatia
Pirlo 39'	Report	Mandžukić 72'

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14 June 2012

18:00

Stadion Miejski, Poznań

Attendance: 37,096^[11]

Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Italy^[12]

Croatia^[12]


GK	1	Gianluigi Buffon (c)
RB	19	Leonardo Bonucci
CB	16	Daniele De Rossi
LB	3	Giorgio Chiellini
DM	21	Andrea Pirlo
CM	8	Claudio Marchisio
CM	5	Thiago Motta	56'	62'
RW	2	Christian Maggio
LW	13	Emanuele Giaccherini
CF	9	Mario Balotelli		69'
CF	10	Antonio Cassano		83'
Substitutions:
MF	18	Riccardo Montolivo	80'	62'
FW	11	Antonio Di Natale		69'
FW	20	Sebastian Giovinco		83'
Manager:
Cesare Prandelli


GK	1	Stipe Pletikosa
RB	11	Darijo Srna (c)
CB	5	Vedran Ćorluka
CB	13	Gordon Schildenfeld	86'
LB	2	Ivan Strinić
CM	8	Ognjen Vukojević
CM	10	Luka Modrić
RW	7	Ivan Rakitić
LW	20	Ivan Perišić		68'
CF	9	Nikica Jelavić		83'
CF	17	Mario Mandžukić		90+4'
Substitutions:
MF	6	Danijel Pranjić		68'
FW	22	Eduardo		83'
MF	19	Niko Kranjčar		90+4'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić

Man of the Match:
Andrea Pirlo (Italy)^[11]

Assistant referees:^[13]
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

More information Spain, 4–0 ...

Spain	4–0	Republic of Ireland
Torres 4', 70' Silva 49' Fàbregas 83'	Report

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14 June 2012

20:45

PGE Arena, Gdańsk

Attendance: 39,150^[14]

Referee: Pedro Proença (Portugal)

Spain^[15]

Republic of Ireland^[15]


GK	1	Iker Casillas (c)
RB	17	Álvaro Arbeloa
CB	3	Gerard Piqué
CB	15	Sergio Ramos
LB	18	Jordi Alba
RM	8	Xavi
CM	16	Sergio Busquets
LM	14	Xabi Alonso	54'	65'
RF	21	David Silva
CF	9	Fernando Torres		74'
LF	6	Andrés Iniesta		80'
Substitutions:
DF	4	Javi Martínez	76'	65'
MF	10	Cesc Fàbregas		74'
MF	20	Santi Cazorla		80'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque


GK	1	Shay Given
RB	4	John O'Shea
CB	2	Sean St Ledger	84'
CB	5	Richard Dunne
LB	3	Stephen Ward
RM	11	Damien Duff		76'
CM	8	Keith Andrews
CM	6	Glenn Whelan	45+1'	80'
LM	7	Aiden McGeady
CF	20	Simon Cox		46'
CF	10	Robbie Keane (c)	36'
Substitutions:
FW	14	Jonathan Walters		46'
MF	22	James McClean		76'
MF	21	Paul Green		80'
Manager:
Giovanni Trapattoni

Man of the Match:
Fernando Torres (Spain)^[14]

Assistant referees:^[16]
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

More information Croatia, 0–1 ...

Croatia	0–1	Spain
	Report	Navas 88'

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18 June 2012

20:45

PGE Arena, Gdańsk

Attendance: 39,076^[17]

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Croatia^[18]

Spain^[18]


GK	1	Stipe Pletikosa
RB	21	Domagoj Vida		66'
CB	5	Vedran Ćorluka	27'
CB	13	Gordon Schildenfeld
LB	2	Ivan Strinić	53'
CM	8	Ognjen Vukojević		81'
CM	7	Ivan Rakitić	90+3'
RW	11	Darijo Srna (c)	44'
AM	10	Luka Modrić
LW	6	Danijel Pranjić		66'
CF	17	Mario Mandžukić	90'
Substitutions:
MF	20	Ivan Perišić		66'
FW	9	Nikica Jelavić	90+1'	66'
FW	22	Eduardo		81'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić


GK	1	Iker Casillas (c)
RB	17	Álvaro Arbeloa
CB	3	Gerard Piqué
CB	15	Sergio Ramos
LB	18	Jordi Alba
RM	8	Xavi	89'
CM	16	Sergio Busquets
LM	14	Xabi Alonso
RF	21	David Silva	73'
CF	9	Fernando Torres	61'
LF	6	Andrés Iniesta
Substitutions:
MF	22	Jesús Navas	61'
MF	10	Cesc Fàbregas	73'
FW	11	Álvaro Negredo	89'
Manager:
Vicente del Bosque

Man of the Match:
Andrés Iniesta (Spain)^[17]

Assistant referees:^[19]
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

More information Italy, 2–0 ...

Italy	2–0	Republic of Ireland
Cassano 35' Balotelli 90'	Report

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18 June 2012

20:45

Stadion Miejski, Poznań

Attendance: 38,794^[20]

Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey)

Italy^[21]

Republic of Ireland^[21]


GK	1	Gianluigi Buffon (c)	73'
RB	7	Ignazio Abate
CB	15	Andrea Barzagli
CB	3	Giorgio Chiellini		57'
LB	6	Federico Balzaretti	28'
DM	21	Andrea Pirlo
RM	8	Claudio Marchisio
CM	5	Thiago Motta
LM	16	Daniele De Rossi	71'
CF	11	Antonio Di Natale		74'
CF	10	Antonio Cassano		63'
Substitutions:
DF	19	Leonardo Bonucci		57'
MF	22	Alessandro Diamanti		63'
FW	9	Mario Balotelli		74'
Manager:
Cesare Prandelli


GK	1	Shay Given
RB	4	John O'Shea	39'
CB	5	Richard Dunne
CB	2	Sean St Ledger	84'
LB	3	Stephen Ward
RM	7	Aiden McGeady		65'
CM	6	Glenn Whelan
CM	8	Keith Andrews	37' 89'
LM	11	Damien Duff (c)
CF	10	Robbie Keane		86'
CF	9	Kevin Doyle		76'
Substitutions:
FW	19	Shane Long		65'
FW	14	Jonathan Walters		76'
FW	20	Simon Cox		86'
Manager:
Giovanni Trapattoni

Man of the Match:
Antonio Cassano (Italy)^[20]

Assistant referees:^[22]
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)

[1]
Raffone, Mike. "Euro 2012: Group C's Italy, Spain and Croatia Provide Spark". Bleacher Report.
[2]
"A welcome distraction: Euro 2012 a timely respite for depressed & debt-ridden Spain". Goal.com.
[3]
Fitzmaurice, Aidan (12 June 2020). "Tired limbs, bored players and a hotel next to a lap-dancing club: Ireland's Euro 2012 campaign was doomed from the start". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
[4]
"Ireland's Euro 2012 armband match tribute to UVF massacre victims slammed". Belfast Telegraph. Brian Rowan. 14 June 2012 Retrieved 19 June 2012
[5]
"Full-time report Spain-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
[6]
"Tactical Line-up – Group C – Spain-Italy" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
[7]
"Match Press Kit – Group C – Spain v Italy" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
[8]
"Full-time report Republic of Ireland-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
[9]
"Tactical Line-up – Group C – Republic of Ireland-Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
[10]
"Match Press Kit – Group C – Republic of Ireland v Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
[11]
"Full-time report Italy-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
[12]
"Tactical Line-up – Group C – Italy-Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
[13]
"Match Press Kit – Group C – Italy v Croatia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
[14]
"Full-time report Spain-Republic of Ireland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
[15]
"Tactical Line-up – Group C – Spain-Republic of Ireland" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
[16]
"Match Press Kit – Group C – Spain v Republic of Ireland" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
[17]
"Full-time report Croatia-Spain" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
[18]
"Tactical Line-up – Group C – Croatia-Spain" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
[19]
"Match Press Kit – Group C – Croatia v Spain" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
[20]
"Full-time report Italy-Republic of Ireland" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
[21]
"Tactical Line-up – Group C – Italy-Republic of Ireland" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
[22]
"Match Press Kit – Group C – Italy v Republic of Ireland" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2021.