Ivan Rakitić the competition. On 15 October 2008, he scored a brace in a 4–0 win at home to Andorra. On 5 September 2009, he scored the match-winning goal in a 1–0 win at home to Belarus. Croatia failed to qualify for the finals after finishing third in their group. After appearing in all of their Euro 2012 qualifiers, he was selected to be part of the Croatian squad at the Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine. Croatia were drawn in Group C together with Spain, Italy and the Republic of Ireland. Rakitić started in all three of Croatia group stage matches.
Concerns and controversies related to UEFA Euro 2012 "de Volksrant", the story was sensationalized by "de Telegraaf". The first incidence of hooliganism at Euro 2012 happened on 8 June 2012 after Russia vs Czech Republic in Wrocław. Russian hooligans were violent against Polish stewards at the Wrocław`s Municipal Stadium. Around 30 Russian hooligans attacked a handful of stewards. Four stewards needed hospital treatment after this attack. On 11 June 2012, before the Euro 2012 match between Croatia and Ireland, Croatian football fans clashed with riot police in the Polish city of Poznań. Croatian fans threw chairs, bottles and flares at Polish riot police. The incident began after a