LEE CARSLEY / ANALYSIS:The former Republic of Ireland midfielder joins our team of writers at the European finals.

WHAT WORRIED me even before Sunday’s disappointing defeat to Croatia was reports coming from the Irish squad of players being too tired to train.

It was just after the Hungary friendly but I still found it alarming on the eve of the European Championships – the pinnacle for most professional footballers. You shouldn’t be feeling fatigue three days out from your opening group game. Just excitement and nervous energy, which can be harnessed into a performance.

On hearing that some players asked for a day off all I can do, from the outside, is wonder what has gone on in training. Have the preparation and travel arrangements gone smoothly?

These questions must be asked because the 3-1 defeat which followed was so far removed from what we had grown accustomed to these past two years.

Maybe it was just a bad day at the office. But what a time to have one of those.

We weren’t expecting a Euro ’88 start but something like the 1-1 draw with Cameroon at the 2002 World Cup would have sent morale sky rocketing.

Instead, after such a poor start, three and a half weeks in camp will seem a lot longer. It is now up to the senior players, rather than the manager, to lift the squad.

In the next 48 hours the likes of Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Shay Given will have to really come into their own.

Shay and Richard, in particular, will have points to prove on Thursday against Spain. As will our skilful wingers. If you were watching Ireland for the first time the other night the presumption would be that Aiden McGeady and Damien Duff were full backs and not our creative sparks.

They were never put in a position to show what they can do. This was mainly because everyone seemed to lack the essential energy levels. We didn’t play our best football until 10, 15 minutes after Croatia’s first goal but once Sean St Ledger got the equaliser everyone seemed to run out of steam.

We couldn’t get close to their midfielders, allowing them settle into a one touch passing routine. When we did attack, the pitch looked massive, with players struggling to get close to each other.

Croatia dominating possession in our half is not much of an achievement considering our defensive line was set up on the edge of our box. I’ve watched Ireland ever since I stopped playing and even against so-called lesser nations we have been dominated, including at home.

We can’t expect the team to suddenly change tactics now. Spain will own the ball. That’s fine so long as we make it uncomfortable for them.

At some point in the opening exchanges we’re going to have to say: ‘This is what we are about, this is what we are going to do today.’ Otherwise we will be devoured by a great team.

I spent three days in Barcelona recently, studying their training methods. Everything revolves around possession. It is not all about attack, with more focus on waiting for opposition concentration levels to waiver. Then they strike.

Everything done at training is transferable to match situations. It is about creating the spare man, with one from Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets constantly on the ball and constantly moving after they pass it. But there are clones of these great players coming behind them. Right down to the under-14s, every session mirrors the work of the senior squad. It is an amazing conveyor belt to see.

Everyone goes on about their passing, the tiki-taka style, but what really impressed me is the emphasis both Barca and Spain put on winning the ball back. It is a pressing game using the six-second rule. When they lose possession the best time to win it back is those next six seconds. But it is more complex than that. When they are not in possession they immediately fill the gaps, blocking the passing channels, aiming to intercept more than tackle.

If I was in the Ireland camp this week, I would sit and watch the 10-man Chelsea performance at Camp Nou in the Champions League semi-final. Chelsea were compact and had a unity of purpose. If Messi (Iniesta largely filled his role for Spain against Italy) went past somebody, another challenge came flying in almost immediately.

Ireland are predictable but so are Spain. They never alter from their philosophy, even when they fall behind. That proved to be Barca’s undoing against Chelsea because they couldn’t get past a nine-man defensive wall. It wasn’t until the dying minutes that Mascherano (for Spain see Xavi Alonso) had a speculative shot from outside the box.

We know what’s coming. On the other hand, they are not sure what we’ll do. We’re a wounded animal. I’d love to see Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews push right up against their midfielders. I’d like to see our full backs released forward as well, to keep Spain honest.

Have a scrap with them. Give a true account of what Irish football is about. Our brilliant fans deserve a blood’n’guts opening from the players. Let’s not wait to go behind. None of this neat and tidy beautiful game stuff, go at them and go at them hard.

It’s our only chance of getting a result and they won’t like it one bit. Make it a proper game of football, high-tempo stuff. Throw-ins, free kicks, corners. Especially corners.

That’s where we can hurt Spain.

It is vital we keep it compact and well organised but when the few attacking opportunities do arise we must get the ball to Duffer and McGeady in the wide channels. Only then can Spain be pulled apart.

But it starts this week in the hotel environment with the leaders leading now more than ever before. I believe they will.

We have a history at major tournaments of leaving with our heads held high.

That is under threat now. It’s important we perform, regardless of the result.

We know all about Spain. Hopefully we can give them a performance to remember us by.