Croatia coach Niko Kovac has apologised for the ugly scenes in the crowd that marred his side’s 1-1 draw with Italy in Milan yesterday.

A piece of Brazilian magic denied Celtic early qualification for the Europa League group stages as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Astra Giurgiu in a fog-bound stadium in Romania.

Hajduk Split 1 Dundalk 2(3-2 to Hajduk on aggregate)

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny is refusing to throw in the towel on his side’s Europa League challenge ahead of tonight’s second qualifying round second leg clash with Hajduk Split in Croatia.

Shock new Swiss laws that target immigration are a cause for concern, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Bob Dylan is being asked to apologise for remarks he made in an interview that have ran afoul of French anti-racism laws.

Legendary singer Bob Dylan has been charged in France with inciting hatred over a 2012 interview in which he compared Croatians to Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan.

Croatia became the 28th member of the EU at midnight last night, a milestone capping the Adriatic republic’s recovery from war but tinged with anxiety over its economy and the state of the bloc it joins.

World Cup qualifiers - roundup

For the Irish football fan, this time last year was full of dreams, songs to sing and camper vans to source.

Life under tarpaulin couldn’t be more pleasant than in lush Istria on Croatia’s Adriatic coast where Conor Power decamped to soak up the sun and enjoy the laid-back pace of life.

Last season’s beaten finalists Athletic Bilbao were made to work hard by Croatian side Slaven Belupo before edging through 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa League third qualifying round.

Liam Buckley is as wary of the hot, humid conditions expected in Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight as he is of the threat of a veteran Brazilian, among technically adept domestic and Croatian players, within the Siroki Brijeg team as he completes his preparations for St Patrick’s Athletic’s task ahead at the Pecara Stadium.

Richard Dunne has admitted his heartache at Ireland’s early Euro 2012 exit.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has insisted they will not settle for a draw against Croatia in their final Group C game at Euro 2012 on Monday.

Sean St Ledger was left to reflect upon the most difficult game of his career as the Republic of Ireland attempted to pick up the pieces of their Euro 2012 campaign.

Spain 4 Republic of Ireland 0

Looking at the human carnage in Sopot this morning, it’s no surprise Spain and Ireland are the basket cases of Europe.

Marco Tardelli does not consider the Republic of Ireland to be the "Cinderella" of Euro 2012 Group C.

Jon Walters is in the running for a starting place against Spain on Thursday as Giovanni Trapattoni goes in search of “redemption” after Ireland’s opening night defeat against Croatia.

The twelfth man of Poznan refused to accept Euro2012 was over just as it started for the Irish.

Let’s, at the very least, try and focus on the positives.

It was the night Ireland’s Euro 2012 dream turned into a nightmare.

If ‘doing a Greece’ seemed improbable, ‘doing a Switzerland’ and beating Spain on Thursday seems almost impossible, based on this toothless display

As the ball bounced cruelly off Shay Given’s head and in for Croatia’s third goal, one kindly young female fan groaned and exclaimed “Ah, the poor fella!”

Three Irish football fans were among 14 people arrested in Poznan, Poland in the early hours of this morning after a flareup of violence believed to have been sparked by domestic hooligans.

Robbie Keane is hoping history repeats itself as he goes head-to-head with Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa once again.

Almost there now…

Sean St Ledger has warned his Republic of Ireland team-mates it would be a mistake to believe Sunday night's clash with Croatia represents their best chance of a Group C victory.

Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given was back in training today a little more than 48 hours before his side’s Euro 2012 opener against Croatia.

Robbie Keane cannot wait to get started as the Republic of Ireland finalise their preparations for their Euro 2012 kick-off on Sunday evening.

Marco Tardelli today insisted goalkeeper Shay Given will be fit for the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 opener against Croatia on Sunday.

Stephen Hunt will treat his European Championship bow as he did his Barclays Premier League debut.

Two of Ireland’s Euro 2012 group rivals have been hit by late injuries, with Croatian striker Ivica Olic out of the tournament with a ruptured thigh muscle.

As a reporter covering a rather more bellicose international contest once famously remarked: I counted them all out and I counted them all back in again.

Croatia were dealt a major blow today when striker Ivica Olic was ruled out of Euro 2012.

Giovanni Trapattoni is in no danger of under-estimating Ireland’s Euro 2012 opponents.

Simon Cox is desperate for a chance to stake his claim for a Euro 2012 berth against Hungary on Monday evening.

Richard Dunne is hoping the luck of the Irish can help give Giovanni Trapattoni's team an edge over their Euro 2012 rivals.

Croatia’s friendly with Sweden tonight will be a good rehearsal for their Euro 2012 opener against the Republic of Ireland, coach Slaven Bilic claimed yesterday.

The people of Croatia have voted in favour of joining the European Union.

Croatians are voting in a nationwide referendum on whether to join the debt-stricken European Union.

MICHAEL O’LEARY donned the green shirt yesterday but Keano, Duffer and Big Dunney can rest easy — Micko is not making a late bid for inclusion on the Trapair flight to Poland next summer.

REAL MADRID joined Barcelona in guaranteeing their qualification for the Champions League knockout stages as two Cristiano Ronaldo goals gave Jose Mourinho’s men a 2-0 victory at Lyon last night.