Tough draw fails to dampen the enthusiasm of optimistic O’Dea

Having already been drawn in Group C, the Irish were waiting to discover who from the second pot of seeds would fill the final berth after the names of Spain and Croatia had already been plucked from the glass bowls that have become a de-rigueur feature of deciding who plays who in a major tournament.

Only two countries remained – Italy and England, meaning the Republic possibly being in line for a repeat of their only previous appearance in a European Championships and a clash with England.

Sadly – or, considering how dull not only that 1988 meeting in Germany was but also the 1-1 snorefest of two years later at the World Cup, perhaps mercifully – Italy’s name was the next to be drawn out at the Kiev Palace of Art to shatter any hopes O’Dea had of lining up against the country where he was, at the time, plying his trade with Leeds United.

In the immediate aftermath, the 25-year-old defender, on loan at Elland Road at the time, was disappointed but considering how the excitement in Ireland has built and built to almost fever-pitch levels in the intervening six months, maybe it was for the best that a meeting with England is not on the agenda in the group stages.

Up to 20,000 fans are set to follow the Republic to Poland, around four times the numbers expected from England and O’Dea is certain the Green Army will make their presence felt.

“I expect the Irish fans to be one of the big parts of Euro 2012 with all the colour and the singing they will bring,” he said. “I watched the 1994 World Cup and the 2002 World Cup on television back home and the Irish brought a lot to both tournaments.

“In Ireland, the whole country came to a standstill and I expect the same will happen again. It is going to be great and nice to put a smile on people’s faces.”

Ireland’s first appearance at a major finals since the 2002 World Cup will kick-off on Sunday in Poznan against Croatia. Four days later, Spain will then await Giavanni Trapattoni’s men in Gdansk before Group C comes to a close on June 18 as the Republic face Italy in Poznan as Spain take on Croatia.

It is a daunting schedule, as illustrated by the Irish having to take on sides rated first, eighth and 12th in the world.

O’Dea said: “It is a tough draw, but to be fair what I was expecting as these are the best teams in Europe. There may be easier groups but I was more than happy with what we got.

“Spain are the best team in the world, while Italy always do well in tournaments. Croatia, too, have done well so it should be an exciting group.

“Plus, we have shown several times in the past just how well we can do against the top teams. So, who knows what will happen?”

Ireland’s place at the Championships will be made even sweeter by what happened in the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup, when a blatant handball by Thierry Henry in the second leg sent France through at the expense of Trapattoni’s side.

The subsequent travails of the French, who failed to win a game in South Africa and even suffered the humiliation of their players going on strike, did little to lessen the sense of injustice.

Now, of course, the Irish have a chance to make amends by stamping their own mark on a major finals and going one better than their only previous appearance in the Championship when they failed to get beyond the group stage in 1988.

For O’Dea, the build-up to Euro 2012 has been far from ideal with not one but two rejections at club level.

First, Leeds manager Neil Warnock released the loan defender with a couple of weeks of the 2011-12 season still to play after deciding he would look elsewhere in terms of bolstering the Elland Road backline.

Then, just last week, O’Dea was informed by Celtic that his parent club wouldn’t be taking up the option to extend his contract, which runs out at the end of this month, for another year.

It means, once Ireland’s involvement in Euro 2012 is over, the Dublin-born defender will be looking for another club.

“It lets me get on with my career,” says O’Dea, who made 35 Championship appearances for Leeds last season and another 20 when on loan at Ipswich Town in 2010-11. “I had a great time at Celtic and have a lot of friends there so it was important for me that I left properly.

“I have now been given the chance to do that and I wish Celtic all the best. I am totally focused on the European Championships but after that I will assess my options.”

With thoughts as to his future at club level on the back burner, O’Dea, who is hoping to be involved tonight when Ireland take part in their final warm-up friendly against Hungary, is hoping for a memorable few weeks on the international stage.

He said: “The squad has a good spirit about it. Everyone is fighting for their place, it is a really healthy competition. We are all just enjoying being here.

“If my chance does come, I will do what I have always done and show that I can be relied upon. As a winger or a centre-forward, you can come on for 10 minutes and affect a game.

“But, as a centre-half, you have to be reliable.

“It would be a massive occasion for me if I did get in (the team). I would love to play some part, as this is a competition we have all been striving to be part of.”

[email protected]