Top of the group: Croatia sit top of the group after one game

‘It was a definite penalty but maybe the referee didn’t give it because they had a player down and they wanted us to put the ball out,’ Keane said.

Keith Andrews admitted Ireland got off to a ‘terrible start’, adding: ‘We’ve given away that goal then just before half-time, we’ve given away a needless corner and we conceded seconds after it. At half-time we said to each other “we’ll go out there and regroup, keep it together for the next 15 or 20 minutes and see will they get a little bit nervy”, but again we conceded and it just kills us really.’

Asked what it was going to take with Spain and Italy to come. Andrews said: ‘Two performances, it’s as simple as that. We need to get at teams, get right into them.

Keane added: ‘It will take a big performance against Spain and it’s going to be tough. We have to believe we can get a result.’

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