The Republic of Ireland, Croatia and the Czech Republic all took giant strides toward qualifying for Euro 2012 Friday but Portugal was left with plenty of work to do after its stalemate in Bosnia. In Tallinn, Ireland swept aside nine-man Estonia 4-0 to put itself on the brink of its first European Championships since 1988 and erase memories of its painful 2010 World Cup playoff defeat to France. Giovanni Trapattoni's men mastered minnow Estonia in this playoff first leg with a double from inspirational skipper Robbie Keane after first half contributions from Keith Andrews and Jonathan Walters. Estonia did not help its cause when Andrei Stepanov was red-carded for a foul on Keane on 35 minutes, with captain skipper Raio Piiroja following him off the pitch in the last quarter of an hour. With the return leg in Dublin Tuesday Ireland can start thinking about packing its bags to Ukraine and Poland. Croatia is also firmly in the driving seat in its playoff against Turkey after an equally impressive 3-0 defeat in Istanbul. Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka did the damage to give the Croats a win away from home ahead of the second leg in Zagreb. Croatia got off to the best possible start, racing into a two minute lead when Bayern Munich striker Olic tapped in Corluka's cross from the left corner flag, with Turkey keeper Volkan Demirel found wanting. Croatia doubled its lead on an electric counter-attack down the right. Darijo Srna sent in a peach of a cross with Modric's shot blocked. The ball found its way over the right flank again and Srna tried again, this time Wolfsburg forward Mandzukic heading in by the far post. On 51 minutes Corluka compounded Turkey's misery, escaping his marker to run onto Srna's whipped freekick to head home from five meters. Euro 2004 finalist Portugal came away from its trip to Zenica with a goalless draw, with Bosnia-Hercegovina striker Vedad Ibisevic spurning two late chances to break the deadlock.
