Nobody knows how to judge Croatia. Until their surprisingly comfortable play-off victory against Turkey, it was expected that Slaven Bilic would be looking for work right now, rather than sharing a stage with Trapattoni, Vicente Del Bosque and Prandelli.

Croatia were disappointed to finish second in their group behind Greece and many expected the worst in the play-off.

They have experienced players who have played at the World Cup and European Championships (Josip Simunic, booked three times by Graham Poll in 2006, remains in defence) but they have been moulded by Bilic.

He is energetic and emotional but his side can be unpredictable. They were superb in the European Championships in 2008 before they blew it against Turkey in the quarter-finals and then they finished third in their World Cup qualifying group.

They are not as old a team as Ireland and many would like to see the Dinamo Zagreb 17-year-old Mateo Kovacic brought through. Ajax offered €1m for him when he was recovering from a broken leg and he has been watched by scouts from Barcelona while recent reports claimed he wanted to join Manchester United. Bilic may gamble on him but even if he doesn't Croatia are another side whose ability to keep the ball may dovetail nicely with Ireland's desire to give it away.