Published Saturday, 09 June 2012
Manager Giovanni Trapattoni during a training session in Poland (© PA)
The manager has opted for a relatively unchanged side from the team that secured the Euro 2012 qualification.
There is no place from the start for Sunderland's James McClean, with Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady favoured on the wings, while Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle form the partnership up front.
Despite injury concerns hanging over goalkeeper Shay Given and full-back John O'Shea, both have been declared fit to play.
Sean St Ledger and Richard Dunne form the central defensive partnership, while Stephen Ward plays at left-back. Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan begin in central midfield.
Trapattoni has warned his players to expect the unexpected as they kick off their Euro 2012 campaign ahead of tough clashes with Spain and Italy.
The 73-year-old said: "We all expect victory, of course, but the question is whether you can avoid mistakes. That is a huge concern because in each match, you want to avoid mistakes.
"This is something unpredictable and something unpredictable can happen in each match.
"You can prepare for a match in the best way you can, but I always watch matches and I prepare very well, and then there are unpredictable situations.
"In each circumstance, the Irish nation is confident about this team. They fully believe in us.
"We are really confident, but we have to be aware of that unpredictability."
ROI team facing Croatia on Sunday:
Shay Given, John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Stephen Ward, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle.
Kick off at the Municipal Stadium, Poznan, Poland is at 7.45pm.