# UEFA Euro 2012 Group C

Group C of UEFA Euro 2012 began on 10 June 2012 and ended on 18 June 2012. The pool consisted of defending (and eventual) champion Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland and Croatia. The group was jokingly dubbed the "group of debt" by multiple media outlets, in reference to the European sovereign debt crisis facing some of its members. Spain and Italy progressed to the quarter-finals, while Croatia and Republic of Ireland were eliminated from the tournament. Republic of Ireland equalled the worst performance by a team in the group stage of the European Championships, finishing with no points and a goal difference of −8. Both Spain and Italy made it through the quarter-finals and semi-finals to reach the final for a second meeting in the tournament.
In their final match, the Republic of Ireland wore black armbands to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Loughinisland massacre. This was criticised by some unionists and members of the UVF. However, the victims' families fully supported the gesture.
Spain, Italy, and Croatia were later drawn in Group B of the UEFA Euro 2024; coincidentally, Croatia would be eliminated in the group while Spain would also go on to win the tournament as well.

## Teams

| Draw position | Team | Pot | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | UEFA Rankings November 2011 | FIFA Rankings June 2012 |
| C1 | Spain | 1 | Group I winner | 6 September 2011 | 9th | 2008 | Winners (1964, 2008) | 1 | 1 |
| C2 | Italy | 2 | Group C winner | 6 September 2011 | 8th | 2008 | Winners (1968) | 4 | 12 |
| C3 | Republic of Ireland | 4 | Play-off winner | 15 November 2011 | 2nd | 1988 | Group stage (1988) | 14 | 18 |
| C4 | Croatia | 3 | Play-off winner | 15 November 2011 | 4th | 2008 | Quarter-finals (1996, 2008) | 7 | 8 |
Notes
* ↑ The UEFA rankings of November 2011 were used for seeding for the final draw.

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Croatia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Republic of Ireland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 0 | |
In the quarter-finals,
* The winner of Group C, Spain, advanced to play the runner-up of Group D, France.
* The runner-up of Group C, Italy, advanced to play the winner of Group D, England.

## Matches
### Spain vs Italy

| Spain | Italy |
| GK | 1 | Iker Casillas (c) |
| RB | 17 | Álvaro Arbeloa | 84' |
| CB | 3 | Gerard Piqué |
| CB | 15 | Sergio Ramos |
| LB | 18 | Jordi Alba | 66' |
| RM | 8 | Xavi |
| CM | 16 | Sergio Busquets |
| LM | 14 | Xabi Alonso |
| RF | 21 | David Silva | | 64' |
| CF | 10 | Cesc Fàbregas | | 74' |
| LF | 6 | Andrés Iniesta |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 22 | Jesús Navas | | 64' |
| FW | 9 | Fernando Torres | 84' | 74' |
| Manager: ||
| Vicente del Bosque ||
| GK | 1 | Gianluigi Buffon (c) |
| CB | 3 | Giorgio Chiellini | 79' |
| CB | 16 | Daniele De Rossi |
| CB | 19 | Leonardo Bonucci | 66' |
| RM | 13 | Emanuele Giaccherini |
| CM | 8 | Claudio Marchisio |
| CM | 21 | Andrea Pirlo |
| CM | 5 | Thiago Motta | | 90' |
| LM | 2 | Christian Maggio | 89' |
| CF | 10 | Antonio Cassano | | 65' |
| CF | 9 | Mario Balotelli | 37' | 56' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 11 | Antonio Di Natale | | 56' |
| FW | 20 | Sebastian Giovinco | | 65' |
| MF | 23 | Antonio Nocerino | | 90' |
| Manager: ||
| Cesare Prandelli ||
* Man of the Match:
* Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
* Assistant referees:
* Gábor Erős (Hungary)
* György Ring (Hungary)
* Fourth official:
* William Collum (Scotland)
* Additional assistant referees:
* István Vad (Hungary)
* Tamás Bognár (Hungary)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Alasdair Ross (Scotland)

### Republic of Ireland vs Croatia

| Republic of Ireland | Croatia |
| GK | 1 | Shay Given |
| RB | 4 | John O'Shea |
| CB | 2 | Sean St Ledger |
| CB | 5 | Richard Dunne |
| LB | 3 | Stephen Ward |
| CM | 6 | Glenn Whelan |
| CM | 8 | Keith Andrews | 45+1' |
| RW | 7 | Aiden McGeady | | 54' |
| LW | 11 | Damien Duff |
| CF | 9 | Kevin Doyle | | 53' |
| CF | 10 | Robbie Keane (c) | | 75' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 14 | Jonathan Walters | | 53' |
| FW | 20 | Simon Cox | | 54' |
| FW | 19 | Shane Long | | 75' |
| Manager: ||
| Giovanni Trapattoni ||
| GK | 1 | Stipe Pletikosa |
| RB | 11 | Darijo Srna (c) |
| CB | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka |
| CB | 13 | Gordon Schildenfeld |
| LB | 2 | Ivan Strinić |
| DM | 8 | Ognjen Vukojević |
| RW | 7 | Ivan Rakitić | | 90+2' |
| AM | 10 | Luka Modrić | 53' |
| LW | 20 | Ivan Perišić | | 89' |
| CF | 17 | Mario Mandžukić |
| CF | 9 | Nikica Jelavić | | 72' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 19 | Niko Kranjčar | 84' | 72' |
| FW | 22 | Eduardo | | 89' |
| MF | 16 | Tomislav Dujmović | | 90+2' |
| Manager: ||
| Slaven Bilić ||
* Man of the Match:
* Mario Mandžukić (Croatia)
* Assistant referees:
* Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)
* Erwin Zeinstra (Netherlands)
* Fourth official:
* Viktor Shvetsov (Ukraine)
* Additional assistant referees:
* Pol van Boekel (Netherlands)
* Richard Liesveld (Netherlands)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Oleksandr Voytyuk (Ukraine)

### Italy vs Croatia

| Italy | Croatia |
| GK | 1 | Gianluigi Buffon (c) |
| RB | 19 | Leonardo Bonucci |
| CB | 16 | Daniele De Rossi |
| LB | 3 | Giorgio Chiellini |
| DM | 21 | Andrea Pirlo |
| CM | 8 | Claudio Marchisio |
| CM | 5 | Thiago Motta | 56' | 62' |
| RW | 2 | Christian Maggio |
| LW | 13 | Emanuele Giaccherini |
| CF | 9 | Mario Balotelli | | 69' |
| CF | 10 | Antonio Cassano | | 83' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 18 | Riccardo Montolivo | 80' | 62' |
| FW | 11 | Antonio Di Natale | | 69' |
| FW | 20 | Sebastian Giovinco | | 83' |
| Manager: ||
| Cesare Prandelli ||
| GK | 1 | Stipe Pletikosa |
| RB | 11 | Darijo Srna (c) |
| CB | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka |
| CB | 13 | Gordon Schildenfeld | 86' |
| LB | 2 | Ivan Strinić |
| CM | 8 | Ognjen Vukojević |
| CM | 10 | Luka Modrić |
| RW | 7 | Ivan Rakitić |
| LW | 20 | Ivan Perišić | | 68' |
| CF | 9 | Nikica Jelavić | | 83' |
| CF | 17 | Mario Mandžukić | | 90+4' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Danijel Pranjić | | 68' |
| FW | 22 | Eduardo | | 83' |
| MF | 19 | Niko Kranjčar | | 90+4' |
| Manager: ||
| Slaven Bilić ||
* Man of the Match:
* Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
* Assistant referees:
* Michael Mullarkey (England)
* Peter Kirkup (England)
* Fourth official:
* Pavel Královec (Czech Republic)
* Additional assistant referees:
* Martin Atkinson (England)
* Mark Clattenburg (England)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Roman Slyško (Slovakia)

### Spain vs Republic of Ireland

| Spain | Republic of Ireland |
| GK | 1 | Iker Casillas (c) |
| RB | 17 | Álvaro Arbeloa |
| CB | 3 | Gerard Piqué |
| CB | 15 | Sergio Ramos |
| LB | 18 | Jordi Alba |
| RM | 8 | Xavi |
| CM | 16 | Sergio Busquets |
| LM | 14 | Xabi Alonso | 54' | 65' |
| RF | 21 | David Silva |
| CF | 9 | Fernando Torres | | 74' |
| LF | 6 | Andrés Iniesta | | 80' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 4 | Javi Martínez | 76' | 65' |
| MF | 10 | Cesc Fàbregas | | 74' |
| MF | 20 | Santi Cazorla | | 80' |
| Manager: ||
| Vicente del Bosque ||
| GK | 1 | Shay Given |
| RB | 4 | John O'Shea |
| CB | 2 | Sean St Ledger | 84' |
| CB | 5 | Richard Dunne |
| LB | 3 | Stephen Ward |
| RM | 11 | Damien Duff | | 76' |
| CM | 8 | Keith Andrews |
| CM | 6 | Glenn Whelan | 45+1' | 80' |
| LM | 7 | Aiden McGeady |
| CF | 20 | Simon Cox | | 46' |
| CF | 10 | Robbie Keane (c) | 36' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 14 | Jonathan Walters | | 46' |
| MF | 22 | James McClean | | 76' |
| MF | 21 | Paul Green | | 80' |
| Manager: ||
| Giovanni Trapattoni ||
* Man of the Match:
* Fernando Torres (Spain)
* Assistant referees:
* Bertino Miranda (Portugal)
* Ricardo Santos (Portugal)
* Fourth official:
* Marcin Borski (Poland)
* Additional assistant referees:
* Jorge Sousa (Portugal)
* Duarte Gomes (Portugal)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Marcin Borkowski (Poland)

### Croatia vs Spain

| Croatia | Spain |
| GK | 1 | Stipe Pletikosa |
| RB | 21 | Domagoj Vida | | 66' |
| CB | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka | 27' |
| CB | 13 | Gordon Schildenfeld |
| LB | 2 | Ivan Strinić | 53' |
| CM | 8 | Ognjen Vukojević | | 81' |
| CM | 7 | Ivan Rakitić | 90+3' |
| RW | 11 | Darijo Srna (c) | 44' |
| AM | 10 | Luka Modrić |
| LW | 6 | Danijel Pranjić | | 66' |
| CF | 17 | Mario Mandžukić | 90' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 20 | Ivan Perišić | | 66' |
| FW | 9 | Nikica Jelavić | 90+1' | 66' |
| FW | 22 | Eduardo | | 81' |
| Manager: ||
| Slaven Bilić ||
| GK | 1 | Iker Casillas (c) |
| RB | 17 | Álvaro Arbeloa |
| CB | 3 | Gerard Piqué |
| CB | 15 | Sergio Ramos |
| LB | 18 | Jordi Alba |
| RM | 8 | Xavi | 89' |
| CM | 16 | Sergio Busquets |
| LM | 14 | Xabi Alonso |
| RF | 21 | David Silva | 73' |
| CF | 9 | Fernando Torres | 61' |
| LF | 6 | Andrés Iniesta |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 22 | Jesús Navas | 61' |
| MF | 10 | Cesc Fàbregas | 73' |
| FW | 11 | Álvaro Negredo | 89' |
| Manager: ||
| Vicente del Bosque ||
* Man of the Match:
* Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
* Assistant referees:
* Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany)
* Mike Pickel (Germany)
* Fourth official:
* Richard Liesveld (Netherlands)
* Additional assistant referees:
* Florian Meyer (Germany)
* Deniz Aytekin (Germany)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)

### Italy vs Republic of Ireland

| Italy | Republic of Ireland |
| GK | 1 | Gianluigi Buffon (c) | 73' |
| RB | 7 | Ignazio Abate |
| CB | 15 | Andrea Barzagli |
| CB | 3 | Giorgio Chiellini | | 57' |
| LB | 6 | Federico Balzaretti | 28' |
| DM | 21 | Andrea Pirlo |
| RM | 8 | Claudio Marchisio |
| CM | 5 | Thiago Motta |
| LM | 16 | Daniele De Rossi | 71' |
| CF | 11 | Antonio Di Natale | | 74' |
| CF | 10 | Antonio Cassano | | 63' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 19 | Leonardo Bonucci | | 57' |
| MF | 22 | Alessandro Diamanti | | 63' |
| FW | 9 | Mario Balotelli | | 74' |
| Manager: ||
| Cesare Prandelli ||
| GK | 1 | Shay Given |
| RB | 4 | John O'Shea | 39' |
| CB | 5 | Richard Dunne |
| CB | 2 | Sean St Ledger | 84' |
| LB | 3 | Stephen Ward |
| RM | 7 | Aiden McGeady | | 65' |
| CM | 6 | Glenn Whelan |
| CM | 8 | Keith Andrews | 37' 89' |
| LM | 11 | Damien Duff (c) |
| CF | 10 | Robbie Keane | | 86' |
| CF | 9 | Kevin Doyle | | 76' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 19 | Shane Long | | 65' |
| FW | 14 | Jonathan Walters | | 76' |
| FW | 20 | Simon Cox | | 86' |
| Manager: ||
| Giovanni Trapattoni ||
* Man of the Match:
* Antonio Cassano (Italy)
* Assistant referees:
* Bahattin Duran (Turkey)
* Tarık Ongun (Turkey)
* Fourth official:
* Viktor Shvetsov (Ukraine)
* Additional assistant referees:
* Hüseyin Göçek (Turkey)
* Bülent Yıldırım (Turkey)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Oleksandr Voytyuk (Ukraine)