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Damien Duff reacts to Ireland's defeat. INPHO/James Crombie
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Here's what the rest of the world thought of Ireland's loss yesterday

The Irish papers weren’t too optimistic today, but what did the rest of the world make of last night’s game?

SO WHAT DID our foreign colleagues make of last night’s game?

The Italian newspaper, Corriere Dello Sport, focuses on Trap’s unhappiness with the referee’s performance, saying that the defeat was “undeserved” and that “anything can happen” in the next two games.

Trap also pointed to Chelsea winning the Champions League as evidence of inferior teams securing unlikely triumphs.

Meanwhile, the AS match report begins by stating that “the green catenaccio lasted 120 seconds”.

The paper praises the Irish fans, suggesting that Poznan “seemed like Limerick,” given the bad weather and the considerable number of Irish fans in attendance.

As regards what Spain can learn from the game in relation to their upcoming encounter with Ireland, they added: “Their catenaccio is weak and they have terrible problems with the ball.”

Le Monde’s liveblog, meanwhile, described Ireland’s performance as “brave but all too limited technically,” adding that “the qualification door seems to have already closed” for the Boys in Green.

The Croatian Times suggested that “Croatia outplayed Ireland in all facets and ran out comfortable 3-1 winners,” while quoting manager Slaven Bilic remarking that his side “deserved the victory”.

In addition, 24sata.hr quotes Bilic reacting skeptically to claims that Croatia’s second goal was illegitimate. Bilic said he “did not know” if Trapattoni was justified in his protests, before explaining that he didn’t see anything wrong with the goal.

Writing for The Guardian, Kevin McCarra suggests that Ireland “got their tactics wrong against Croatia”.

He elaborates on this statement, suggesting:

“In essence both teams were in 4-4-2 formation, although Robbie Keane was markedly deeper than the outright centre-forward Kevin Doyle. Adopting a similar approach to Croatia was a dubious choice when Bilic’s team were so much more effective in the formation.”

He concludes by comparing Trap’s side unfavourably with Irish teams of the past, writing:

“Ireland, with the images of Jack Charlton’s side incised on the national consciousness forever, have been seen at times as a disobliging bunch. They were the sort of team to be feared as well as disliked for the utilitarian approach. No one sees the present generation in such terms.”

Finally, in the Daily Telegraph, Jim White takes a slightly different approach, focusing on the post-match reaction of the Irish fans, and detailing the significant clean-up operation that their pre-match celebrations ultimately prompted, adding:

“Though the Polish reprobates seemed reluctant to sweep away the man in a green shirt sleeping soundly in the grass just by the water’s edge.”

A perfect metaphor, if ever there was one, for the national hangover that followed yesterday’s game.

Read: FYI: Can Ireland still qualify with four points and other Group C permutations>

Read: LIVE: Ukraine v Sweden, Euro 2012>

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