Group C of UEFA Euro 2012 began on 10 June 2012 and ended on 18 June 2012. The pool consisted of defending (and eventual) champion Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland and Croatia. The group was jokingly dubbed the "group of debt" by multiple media outlets, in reference to the European sovereign debt crisis facing some of its members.[1][2] Spain and Italy progressed to the quarter-finals, while Croatia and Republic of Ireland were eliminated from the tournament. Republic of Ireland equalled the worst performance by a team in the group stage of the European Championships, finishing with no points and a goal difference of −8.[3] Both Spain and Italy made it through the quarter-finals and semi-finals to reach the final for a second meeting in the tournament.
In their final match, the Republic of Ireland wore black armbands to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Loughinisland massacre. This was criticised by some unionists and members of the UVF.[4] However, the victims' families fully supported the gesture.[4]
Spain, Italy, and Croatia were later drawn in Group B of the UEFA Euro 2024.