Intro:

Croatia trained and looked ahead on Saturday (9 June) to their Euro 2012 Group C opening game against The Republic of Ireland at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan on Sunday (10 June).

Script:

Ireland come into Euro 2012 on the back of an exceptional run of 14 unbeaten games in which they have conceded only three goals.

However that didn't stop Slaven Bilic, whose Croatia side take on Ireland in Group C on Sunday, from branding Giovanni Trapattoni's side as 'simple'.

Bilic, who will step down as Croatia coach at the end of the tournament after six years at the helm, said the Irish won't shock many with their tactics.

SOUNDBITE (Croatian) Slaven Bilic:

"I respect Ireland a lot. They play very good football, but their football is very simple. Objectively they are not a team which is hard to analyse. I don't know how they play tomorrow, maybe they will attack us, maybe they will surprise us, they play just one way so I do not know if they can still surprise us. Robbie Keane would probably not sit on the bench."

Both sides will need a win to retain a realistic hope of progressing to the quarter-finals - the other teams in their group are 2006 World Cup winners Italy, and reigning World and European Champions Spain.