Gruppo di Morte As Trap Draws His Home Nation

Hearts were almost in mouths this evening as the Irish dreamed of being drawn alongside England in Euro 2012 but it wasnt to be. The Republic of Ireland have got a group of death in group C alongside reigning champions Spain, Italy and Croatia.

The boys in green will play their first game of the group on June 10th against Croatia in Poznan. Traps men drew 0-0 in a friendly international in Dublin in August this year. The one to watch there though will be the meeting of Spain and Italy on the same day in Goansk.

We will then play champions Spain on the 14th June in Goansk, revenge will be on the minds for a lot of players in Ireland’s squad looking to make up for the penalty shoot-out loss against the Spanish in the World Cup in 2002.

Our last game in the group will come on the 18th June in Poznan as Ireland go up against Italy, the two have met plenty of times in the past, most recently a 2-0 win over the Azzuri in Belgium of all places in the summer.

FAI CEO John Delaney would probably prefer not to draw England as the friendly game against Fabio Capello’s men will now most likely take place in the Aviva Stadium in May of next year. The money spinner is well on.

Elsewhere in Group A Russia will be favourites to progress as group winners as they were drawn against Poland, Greece and Czech Republic.

Group B like the Republic of Ireland’s group will be very tight as Germany, Portugal, Denmark and Netherlands have been drawn together.

Not as much a tight group but still pretty interesting is group D with England, Sweden France and the Ukraine

Euro 2012 draw in full

GROUP A: Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Russia,

GROUP B: Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Germany.

GROUP C: Spain, Republic of Ireland, Croatia, Italy.

GROUP D: Ukraine, France, Sweden, England

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.