Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has condemned the racist behaviour that led UEFA to opening disciplinary proceedings against his country’s football federation and hopes the problem can be stamped out once and for all.

Giovanni Trapattoni under pressure, Roy Keane calling for the whole team to be dropped and Ireland, should they lose by three or more goals to Italy tonight, facing the indignity of becoming, officially, the worst performing team ever in the history of the European Championship finals — as dead rubber matches go for the Boys In Green, there’s more than a fair bit at stake at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan this evening.

Olomouc in the Czech Republic is not a million miles away from Poznan — it’s 476.7km to be precise — but it seems like a million years since Damien Duff and Robbie Keane made their senior Irish debuts as fresh-faced kids in a friendly in that Czech town in 1998.

Cesare Prandelli called for calm as he prepared to send Italy into their make-or-break Group C clash with the Republic of Ireland tomorrow night.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has questioned his players’ lack of a killer instinct and their fitness levels in the wake of another draw in Euro 2012.

Russia will spend the next three-and-a-half years playing under the threat of a six-point deduction for their 2016 European Championship qualify campaign after UEFA last night got tough over the behaviour of their fans.

Richard Dunne was back in training today as the Republic of Ireland continued their preparations for Thursday night's Euro 2012 showdown with Spain.

There were any number of moments on Sunday night that indicated an Irish team playing below its best but perhaps none were more alarming than the sight of Richard Dunne being hounded out of possession in that fraught opening half.

Richard Dunne did not train with his Ireland team-mates in Gdynia this afternoon.

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.

The Russian Football Association have appealed to their fans to behave better after UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings over their behaviour during the national team’s Euro 2012 victory over Czech Republic.

UEFA have tonight opened disciplinary proceedings against Russia over the behaviour of their fans during their European Championship victory over Czech Republic.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is not expecting any surprises from Republic of Ireland counterpart Giovanni Trapattoni tomorrow evening.

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

Ahead of our departure for Poznan, we caught Poland’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Greece on television in Sopot last night.

Russia went top of Group A as Alan Dzagoev’s double helped them to an impressive victory over the Czech Republic at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw last night.

Russia 4 Czech Republic 1

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.

Giovanni Trapattoni insists he feels like a 20-year-old as he prepares to become the oldest coach to send his team into European Championship finals battle.

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.

Russia head into their Euro 2012 Group A opener against the Czech Republic with coach Dick Advocaat warning their rivals they are “a dangerous team”.

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

As Giovanni Trapattoni himself has often made a point of saying, Ireland aren’t exactly a team blessed with big names.

Perhaps it was coincidence, perhaps not, but Giovanni Trapattoni last night responded to Aiden McGeady’s suggestion Ireland’s players are jaded by giving his men a day off.

It was a 22-hour round trip for one dedicated fan, sheer luck for others but a case of cementing Irish-Polish relations for most of the crowd.

As the Green Army prepares for the journey of a lifetime, Polish communities at home and away are offering every support — even a telephone helpline back in Cork for Paddys who find themselves stuck for words.

The Republic of Ireland will hold a training session open to the public on June 5, the squad’s first full day at their European Championship base camp in Gdynia in Poland.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s team could be boosted by having as many as 20,000 Irish supporters in attendance at each of their three group games in the European Championship finals in Poland.

The Republic of Ireland will be based in the Polish city of Gdynia during its Euro 2012 campaign, the FAI said today.

IRELAND’S legion of football fans will be left fuming after it emerged other countries heading to Euro 2012 have secured up to 50% more tickets than the Green Army.

An FAI Fan Sales Portal will be set up on www.uefa.com from December 12 until February 29, 2012 for fans wishing to purchase Euro 2012 tickets.

SHELBOURNE’S Jason Byrne and Tottenham Hotspur teenager Terry Dixon could both see action against Chile in tomorrow night’s friendly at Lansdowne Road.

Don Given's Republic of Ireland today kissed goodbye to their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Under-21 Championship finals.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21s coach Don Givens is hoping his side are up to qualifying for the European Championship finals despite suffering a blow to morale in defeat against Portugal.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s coach Don Givens is hoping his side are up to qualifying for the European Championship finals, despite suffering a blow to morale in defeat against Portugal.

Irish U21s manager Don Givens’ young guns crashed to a third straight defeat to further dent their confidence.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 boss Don Givens faces an evening of experimentation in Portugal tomorrow after being forced into a raft of changes.

A Ruud Van Nistelrooy double helped Holland sweep past Latvia to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2004, with a helping hand from the Czech Republic.