Intro:

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

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Robbie Keane, Republic of Ireland captain

"I think it's been a long time coming for the country. I think you can now see the atmosphere of the whole nation back home has completely changed. The whole atmosphere of the whole country has been on its knees for a few years, so that has given the whole country a lift, and certainly as a group of players, obviously great for us. So it's up to us now as a team to hopefully give them as much joy as possible over this next month or so."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Robbie Keane, Republic of Ireland captain

"Our record over the last few years has been very, very good. So we are coming into this competition with a lot of confidence and with the belief that we can certainly get through this group. By no means is it going to be easy, we certainly that. It's probably one of the toughest groups. But being with the lads for three weeks or so and the belief that we had in the squad for the last four years, there is no doubt in my mind that these players are going into this competition believing that we can get out of this group."