The Republic of Ireland have been this evening (Friday) drawn in Group C of the 2012 UEFA European Championships finals alongside the World Cup and the European Championship holders Spain as well as Croatia and Italy.

The championships kick off in Ukraine and Poland on June 8. Ireland's first game will be on Sunday, June 10 against Croatia in Poznan before facing Spain four days later in Gdansk on Thursday, June 14. Ireland's third game, on Monday June 18, will be back in Poznan against Italy to bring the Group stage qualifying series to a conclusion.

The top two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals from which stage matches will be played on a straight knock-out basis.

The quarter-finals will be played from June 21 to 24th. The semi-finals will be played on June 27 and 28 and the final will be played in Kiev on July 1st. First and second in Ireland's group will play against first and second in Group D in the quarter-finals. These two matches will be played in the Ukraine.

From fai.ie

The Fixtures in Ireland's Group are (Irish times):

GROUP C

Sunday 10/06/'11:
Spain v Italy, Gdansk 5.00 pm
Republic of Ireland v Croatia, Poznan 7.45 pm

Thursday 14/06/'11:
Italy v Croatia, Poznan 5.00 pm
Spain v Republic of Ireland, Gdansk 7.45 pm

Monday 18/06/'11:
Croatia v Spain, Gdansk 7.45 pm
Italy v Republic of Ireland, Poznan 7.45 pm
 
Group A: Poland, Greece, Czech Republic, Russia.

Group B: Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Portugal.

Group C: Spain, Italy, Croatia, Republic of Ireland.

Group D: Ukraine, France, Sweden, England.