Spain and Croatia in control

• by Samuel Charles  @SoccerIsArt, Jun 15, 2012

[EURO 2012 GROUP C OUTLOOK] Spain and Croatia control their own destiny. Italy needs help. All three can win the group. Ireland was the first team eliminated at Euro 2012. To figure out how the remaining advance when Group C play concludes on Monday ...

Croatia plays Spain, and Italy faces Ireland, both games start at 2:45pm ET.
 
SPAIN (4 points; +4 goal difference)
Will advance if …
* It beats or ties Croatia on Monday.
* It loses and Ireland beats or ties Italy.
Will be eliminated if …
* It loses and Italy wins.
 
CROATIA (4 pts; +2)
Will advance if …
* It beats Spain.
* It ties Spain and Ireland beats or ties Italy.
Will be eliminated if …
* It loses to Spain and Italy beats Ireland.
 
ITALY (2 pts; 0)
Will advance if …
* It beats Ireland and Spain vs. Croatia produces a winner.
Will be eliminated if …
* It loses or ties with Ireland.
 
IRELAND (0 pts; -6)
Already eliminated.

Here are a couple notes and scenarios not covered above:

* If Spain and Croatia finish tied 2-2 Italy is eliminated - no matter what.

* Spain wins the group by beating Croatia. Spain wins the group with a tie, unless it's scoreless and Italy beats Ireland.
 
* A tie between Spain and Croatia, and a win by Italy will see Spain advance. These results will see Croatia or Italy advance depending  upon the scores. 

(For more on Euro 2012's unique tiebreaking, read "Euro group tiebreakers differ from World Cup" HERE.)