Ireland will face world champions Span in the group stage of the Euro 2012 finals next June.

Ireland have been drawn in one of the toughest Euro 2012 groups along with World Champions Spain, Italy and Croatia.

While the draw will make it very difficult for the Irish to get out of the group, it offers Giovanni Trappatoni’s side the best possible stage to cause an upset.

Ireland will be based in Poland for the group stages of the tournament and will open the campaign against Croatia on Sunday June 10 in Poznan.

They will then square off with Spain – the tournament favourites and reigning world and European champions – in Gdansk on June 14 and Italy in Poznan on June 18.

All the games will be shown live on Setanta Sports in Australia.

Should Ireland progress beyond the group stages they would face opposition from Group D – which features co-hosts Ukraine, England, Sweden and France – in the quarter-final stages in either Donetsk or Kiev on June 23 or 24.

“It’s impossible to say which group is better because we know our position in ranking,” said Trapattoni after the draw. “We have to think in football, everything is possible.

“We have to play with the same mentality. Obviously, all the teams are very difficult, but I am confident. I know better Italy but every game is different. We also have to play Spain and Croatia are not easy.

“Spain are the world champions and are a strong team. We have to think about games against the famous players, like Italy, Brazil and Germany.

“We have to think about our moment, it is a good moment, with our attitude and mentality. It is important that our squad stays without injury.”

Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews said the draw could have been “kinder” and that Ireland would have been happier to drawn one of the home nations.

“There’s no denying it has been a tough draw,” he told The Irish Times, but added it would be fantastic to face Spain, describing the reigning world and European champions as “one of the best teams of the last 30 years”.

Ireland have faced both Croatia and Italy in friendlies over the last 12 months – drawing 0-0 with Croatia at the Aviva Stadium in August and beating Italy 2-0 in Liege in June.

During the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign, Ireland drew 2-2 with Italy in Croke Park and 1-1 in Bari.

Ireland’s last competitive meeting with Spain, also the country’s last fixture at a major championships, was in the second round of the 2002 World Cup in Suwon, Korea. The sides drew 1-1 before Spain progressed 3-2 on penalties.

Keith Andrews (left) celebrates after scoring Ireland's opening goal during the Euro 2012 play-off, first leg at A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia. (Pic: PA)

Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews would relish the opportunity to pitch himself into battle with England.

The Republic head into Tuesday night’s Euro 2012 play-off second leg clash with Estonia as talks over a first friendly between the sides in Dublin since 1995 continue.

They could meet in May as part of both teams’ preparations for the tournament should Ireland join their neighbours in Poland and Ukraine, and Ipswich man Andrews, who scored the opening goal in Friday night’s 4-0 rout in Tallinn, would welcome that challenge.

The 31-year-old said: “Absolutely, it would be fantastic. We haven’t played England in such a long time.

“They have well and truly qualified for the Euros and it would be nice to pit ourselves against them.

“They had a fantastic result yesterday. We play against them week in, week out in the Premier League, and to play against them would be something I am sure both sets of fans would love.”

:: Kelly out

Asked if he would prefer to play against England at next summer’s finals rather than in a friendly, Andrews replied with a smile: “It would be nice, yes, we would settle for a 1-0 win maybe in the group stages if we got them.

“But I am sure it would be a fantastic game if that could be sorted.”

Team-mate Stephen Hunt, however, would certainly prefer to face Fabio Capello’s men when it matters.

He said: “Listen, if we play against England, I would rather play against them in the tournament than a friendly because let’s be honest about it, friendlies are irrelevant.

“It would be nice to beat them, of course. They are our main rivals and they play against Wales and Scotland all the time.

“It would be nice to play against them of course, but I would prefer it at the tournament.

“I go out in every game to play well for my country, but it would be special, if we qualify, to play against Spain in the first game of the tournament, that would be special.”

The last time the sides met at Lansdowne Road, the game was abandoned after just 27 minutes because of crowd trouble.

John Delaney, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland has confirmed that the fixture is a possibility.

He said: “I think there is a real enthusiasm, particularly from the English FA, to have England in Dublin sooner rather than later.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Kelly is out of the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off decider against Estonia on Tuesday night.

The Fulham full-back will miss out with a groin injury, although John O’Shea’s recovery from a hamstring problem means he is likely to replace him.

Assistant manager Marco Tardelli confirmed Kelly’s absence following training in Malahide.

The Italian also revealed that midfielder Damien Duff was able to take part in the session despite returning from Tallinn with a rib injury.

The eagerly anticipated first match in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign will be screened live on Setanta Sports at 1am AEST on Saturday morning (September 4).

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is hoping captain Robbie Keane’s lack of football at Tottenham so far this season will work in his country’s favour.

The 30-year-old striker has managed just two appearances as a substitute for Spurs to date, sparking weeks of speculation that he could leave the club during the transfer window.

However, the deadline passed last night with no sign of a move, and he flew out to Armenia today with his mind focused firmly on the task of returning with three points in the Republic’s Euro 2012 qualifying account.

Indeed, Trapattoni is keeping his fingers crossed that Keane’s lack of recent activity will mean he is fresher than ever.

“Robbie is mature. I have spoken to him about whether he should stay with his club, and I said to him, ‘Sure, your club need you’, the Italian said.

“He is balanced in his mind about football because he knows from many years in England, he knows the situation.

“But I am selfish and at the moment. For Ireland team, it is better he has played a few games.

“He is proud and I’m sure he can play like the Robbie Keane we know.”

Keane was able to train at Malahide yesterday without the protective knee brace he had worn the day before, and he was joined on the flight to Armenia by defenders Richard Dunne and Darren O’Dea, who are expected to shake off muscle and knee injuries respectively.

They were accompanied too by 33-year-old full-back Kevin Kilbane, who has been handed the task of helping to nurse a new generation Ireland stars through their formative moments on the international stage, 13 years after winning his first senior cap against Iceland.

The Hull defender, who is in line to win his 105th senior cap on Friday evening, did consider retiring from international football following the controversial World Cup play-off defeat by France in November last year.

However, having decided to fight for his place with the likes of Manchester City’s 19-year-old Greg Cunningham fast emerging from the ranks, he has been asked by Trapattoni to keep an eye on some of his younger colleagues.

13 years after winning his first senior cap against Iceland”The kids want take the shirt off your back, and will do if you are not performing. We have two or three coming in with real quality.

“We haven’t qualified [for a major tournament] in five or six years, and so young lads have had no real no chance to shine,” Kilbane said.

“This is the time for lads like Kevin Doyle to shine, and we need to qualify so they can have their chance on a big stage.”

“The question was asked at the end of the last campaign about Robbie [Keane], Damien [Duff] and even John O’Shea, but they are key for us.

“I think they all still want to be a part of a team going to a tournament finals, and this is the chance.

“We have never had a massive pool of players, but we are very much a team together.

“It would be all too easy when you are not involved in every game to walk out and say, ‘I have had enough’.

“No. I will sit around and see what happens. I love it, it’s the pinnacle for me.

“I spoke to my family and they made it clearer for me and I took plenty of other advice.

“If anyone thought it was time for me to go, that wasn’t said and it’s nice to hear that people want me to stay around.”

Keeper Shay Given is also in line for a record 105th appearance for Ireland at the Yerevan Republic Stadium.

Trapattoni has been dealt a series of injury blows ahead of the game with Paul McShane joining midfielders Damien Duff, Keith Andrews and Keith Treacy in pulling out of the squad.

Duff has been ruled out with a calf injury and McShane has withdrawn with a hamstring injury. Both Andrews and Treacy are battling groin strains.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan cannot wait for the chance to put his World Cup misery behind him as he targets European success.

The 26-year-old Stoke player, like the rest of his team-mates, was shattered by the Republic’s controversial play-off exit in Paris as France squeezed through to what turned out to be a disastrous campaign in South Africa with a helping hand from Thierry Henry.

Andorra head for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on October 8, and a maximum points haul would give Giovanni Trapattoni’s men just the start they desire, and send a message to Group B rivals Russia and Slovakia.

Whelan said: “Because of what happened in the last campaign, everyone was just hoping for this to come around as soon as possible.

“Hopefully with this campaign here, everyone can forget about what happened in Paris.

“We are not going into any campaign thinking, ‘Let’s go for second’.

“We are definitely going for top and hopefully that’s the case.

“We know we have some tough places to go to and we are going to have some hard games, but we can just worry about ourselves. That’s what we are going to do and hopefully qualify.

“It doesn’t matter if we are playing Armenia or Russia, we will worry about ourselves.”

Only FIFA bureaucracy denied Tim Cahill the chance to play for Ireland.

He’s the pin-up boy of Australian football but only FIFA bureaucracy denied Tim Cahill the chance to play for the Republic of Ireland, it has emerged.

Despite having been born in Australia, Cahill first played international football at the under-17 level for Samoa when he was just 14.

Back in 2002, when the Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals but Australia fell short, Cahill explored the option of declaring for Ireland through his Irish grandfather.

But FIFA denied him because of his Samoan appeareances.

Cahill was quoted in the London Evening Stanard at the time “this ruling is wrong and I want it overturned as it is harming my career. It is a mistake”.

Playing with Millwall at the time, it seems he made it known to former Millwall and then Ireland coach Mick McCarthy that he was eligible for the Republic. But FIFA said no.

The same regulations had already kept him from competing with Australia at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Due to cases such as Cahill’s, FIFA changed its rules in 2004. But if they had changed it earlier Cahill could (and apparently would) have played for Ireland at the Japan-Korea World Cup.

But then FIFA updated its codes and Cahill starred for the Socceroos in Germany in 2006 after coming on as a sub in the opening game against Japan, scoring twice.

The Socceroos will certainly be glad of FIFA”s initial decision though ahead of their World Cup opener against Germany on Sunday night.

by Pádraig Collins

Brazil's Maicon shoots for goal during his side's 2-0 win over Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland were out of luck once again as an own goal from Keith Andrews set Brazil on their way to a 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium in London last night.

With the heartbreak of the Henry incident just beginning to fade away, there was more misfortune in this glamour friendly against the five-time world champions, as just before half time Andrews deflected Robinho’s centre past Shay Given – winning a new record 103rd cap along with defender Kevin Kilbane – and the former Manchester City striker then netted a well-executed second with 14 minutes left.

While Brazil coach Dunga can look forward to fine-tuning the final preparations for his squad’s opening game against North Korea in Johannesburg on June 15, the Irish will once again be left to reflect on what might have been – but on tonight’s battling performance should go into the qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championships with genuine optimism.

It had been a bright start by Ireland, officially the away team this evening.

Captain Robbie Keane – taking his place in the starting XI after initially pulling out of the squad because of a slight knee injury – got away down the right and ghosted back inside before his low shot was smothered at the near post by Julio Cesar.

If the Brazilians thought they would be in for an easy ride, they were given a sharp wake-up call when Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan checked the run of Michel Bastos.

Damien Duff, the Fulham winger, looked dangerous down the left channel, while Paul McShane headed over from a corner.

Brazil, though, continued in their fluid formation, as Kaka weaved his way into the Ireland box before being dispossessed on the goal-line and then drilling a 20-yard shot just over.

It was Ireland, however, who almost snatched the lead on 15 minutes when Kevin Doyle’s close-range header was palmed away by the Brazil keeper.
Only some desperate defending then kept the yellow shirts at bay after Robinho fed Adriano on the edge of the box.

The Flamengo forward was tackled by Stephen Kelly before McShane blocked the follow-up effort from the former City striker.

The South Americans were queuing up to take a free-kick after McShane’s foul on Kaka some 25 yards out, with Adriano eventually whipping the ball up towards goal, which Given tipped over.

St Ledger flashed the ball across the Brazil six-yard box with an overhead kick, but nobody gambled at the far post.

Ireland’s luck deserted them for the second match in succession as Brazil took the lead a minute before the break.

Robinho looked offside when he dashed into the right side of the penalty area, before pulling a low pass back across goal, which the unfortunate Keith Andrews deflected past Given.

Both managers resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes for the second half, going again with the same XI.

Blackburn midfielder Andrews squared up to Kaka after the duo clashed on the edge of the Ireland penalty area, English referee Mike Dean soon restoring calm with a stern word.

Trapattoni made the first changes of the evening when Manchester United youngster Darren Gibson and Aiden McGeady replaced Whelan and Duff after 56 minutes.

Brazil, though, continued to press as Maicon skipped into the Ireland box, and his close-range shot hit St Ledger.

It should have been 2-0 moments later, when, with his first touch, substitute Daniel Alves robbed St Ledger and raced clear to round Given – but could only stab his shot wide.

The assistant’s flag saved McShane’s blushes when he was robbed by Maicon, as in feeding Robinho, Brazil were caught offside as they put the ball in the net.

With 21 minutes left, highly-rated Wigan teenager James McCarthy was handed his full international debut, replacing Liam Lawrence.

Former City man Robinho, officially only on loan at Santos, then blazed over before slotting home a text-book second after good work from Kaka and a neat one-two with substitute Grafite.