POZNAN: Coach Giovanni Trapattoni rued some poor defending and what he regarded as a refereeing error after his Republic of Ireland side lost for the first time in 15 games, going down 3-1 to Croatia in their Euro 2012 Group C opener on Sunday.
A Mario Mandzukic brace and one from Nikica Jelavic handed the Croatians a winning start with Sean St Ledger scoring for Ireland.
Trapattoni felt the Irish had been hard done by as he believed that the Jelavic goal was "clearly offside" and changed the course of the game coming as it did just moments before the break -- however TV images clearly showed the ball came off Stephen Ward which played Jelavic onside.
"The first goal was our mistake," said Trapattoni. "But the second goal was clearly offside," the Italian insisted -- though he admitted that a major post mortem was needed after the first Irish loss in 15 outings.
"Tomorrow (Monday) we'll take the time to clarify what happened in the first half, because yesterday (Saturday) I said we were ready."
The Irish were facing an uphill battle after conceding the first goal inside the opening three minutes, Mandzukic doing well as he regained his footing to head in a cross from captain Darijo Srna, his effort appearing to catch Irish keeper Shay Given in no man's land as he scrambled back in vain.
"Maybe Shay didn't see the ball, because he had three or four players in front of him," Trapattoni ventured.
With Spain and Italy to come Irish chances of reaching the last eight look slim. AFP
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