Euro Cup 2012 : Discussion Thread

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Euro Cup 2012



The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2012, will be the 14th European Championship for national football teams organised by UEFA. The final tournament will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine between 8 June and 1 July 2012. It is the first time that either nation has hosted the tournament. This bid was chosen by UEFA's Executive Committee in 2007.

The final tournament features 16 nations, the last European Championship to do so (from Euro 2016 onward, there will be 24 finalists). Qualification was contested by 51 nations between August 2010 and November 2011 to join the two host nations in the tournament. The winner of the tournament gains automatic entry to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup hosted by Brazil.

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Euro Cup 2012 Match Schedule and Location

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Euro Cup 2012: Teams



All 16 teams have been arranged into four groups:


Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic

Group B: Netherlands,Denmark,Germany, Portugal

Group C: Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Croatia

Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England

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Euro 2012 TV Schedule: Day-by-Day Listings

GROUP STAGE

June 8
Group A
Poland vs. Greece, Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, 12 p.m. ET
Russia vs. Czech Republic, Stadion Miejski, Wroclaw, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 9
Group B
Netherlands vs. Denmark, Metalist, Kharkiv, 12 p.m. ET
Germany vs. Portugal, New Stadium Lviv, Lviv, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 10
Group C
Spain vs. Italy, PGE Arena, Gdansk, 12 p.m. ET
Republic of Ireland vs. Croatia, Stadion Miejski, Poznan, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 11
Group D
France vs. England, Donbass Arena, Donetsk, 12 p.m. ET
Ukraine vs. Sweden, Olimpiyskyi, Kiev, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 12
Group A
Greece vs. Czech Republic, Stadion Miejski, Wroclaw, 12 p.m. ET
Poland vs. Russia, Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 13
Group B
Denmark vs. Portugal, New Stadium Lviv, Lviv, 12 p.m. ET
Netherlands vs. Germany, Metalist, Kharkiv, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 14
Group C
Italy vs. Croatia, Stadion Miejski, Poznan, 12 p.m. ET
Spain vs. Republic of Ireland, PGE Arena, Gdansk, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 15
Group D
Ukraine vs. France, Donbass Arena, Donetsk, 12 p.m. ET
Sweden vs. England, Olimpiyskyi, Kiev, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 16
Group A
Czech Republic vs. Poland, Stadion Miejski, Wroclaw, 2:45 p.m. ET
Greece vs. Russia, Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 17
Group B
Denmark vs. Germany, New Stadium Lviv, Lviv, 2:45 p.m. ET
Portugal vs. Netherlands, Metalist, Kharkiv, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 18
Group C
Italy vs. Republic of Ireland, Stadion Miejski, Poznan, 2:45 p.m. ET
Croatia vs. Spain, PGE Arena, Gdansk, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 19
Group D
England vs. Ukraine, Donbass Arena, Donetsk, 2:45 p.m. ET
Sweden vs. France, Olimpiyskyi, Kiev, 2:45 p.m. ET

KNOCKOUT STAGE

June 21
Quarterfinal 1
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 22
Quarterfinal 2
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, PGE Arena, Gdansk, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 23
Quarterfinal 3
Group C winner vs. Group D runner-up, Donbass Arena, Donetsk, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 24
Quarterfinal 4
Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up, Olimpiyskyi, Kiev, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 27
Semifinal 1
Quarterfinal 1 winner vs. Quarterfinal 3 winner, Donbass Arena, Donetsk, 2:45 p.m. ET

June 28
Semifinal 2
Quarterfinal 2 winner vs. Quarterfinal 4 winner, Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, 2:45 p.m. ET

July 1
Final
Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, Olimpiyskyi, Kiev, 2:45 p.m. ET

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Poland Team



Poland is the Euro 2012 co-hosts and also the Poland team will be self assured of accomplishing the quarter finals inside of not hard Group A.

Hosting country Poland will taste their measure for Euro 2012 however, as the smallest rated football team; they might not survive long as contenders.

The Posts have been extracted in Group A along with Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic, and also it will likely be a harsh task for them to enhance to the smasher level of this game.

How They Qualified

Poland by default was eligible for this sweepstakes considering that they are co-hosts. Consequently it has been 2 years after they participated in a spirited match and also that may carry out it complicated to determine just wherein they endure in between the considered best 16 global squads in European football.

Poland currently have participated a host of beneficial gaming programs with different outcomes. They did role-play group competitors Greece at the warm back in March 2011, and just that match finished in a scoreless draw.

Star Players

The Poland team is probably to possess names of a few familiarized peoples like Wojciech Szczesny and Jakub Blaszczykowski, however the star in this list is definitely Borussia Dortmund hitter Robert Lewandowski.

The 23-years-old starred a leading part as Dortmund romped to the 2010/11 Bundesliga term in incredible stylish, and his goalscoring proportion for the nationwide football team is actually truly reliable. Lewandowski has lacy 13 times in 39 performances for Poland and the stress is connected for him to improve to that chalk up in front of his many other people.

Poland Squad

Goalkeepers

1 Szczesny
12 Sandomierski
22 Tyton

Defenders

2 Boenisch
3 Wojtkowiak
4 Kaminski
13 Wasilewski
14 Wawrzyniak
15 Perquis

Midfielders

6 Matuszczyk
7 Polanski
8 Rybus
10 Obraniak
11 Murawski
16 Blaszczykowski
18 Mierzejewski
19 Wolski

Forwards

9 Lewandowski
17 Sobiech
20 Piszczek
21 Grosicki
23 Brozek

Additional Players

5 Dudka

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Greece Team



Greece shocked the whole of football when they won the European Championship back in 2004, but a repeat of that feat is almost unimaginable. Greece have been drawn alongside Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic in Group A and the bookmakers have made them outsiders to come out on top.

How They Qualified

Their improvements to Euro 2012 ended up being barely incredible, but Greece did handle to finish off their passing promotion with an unconquered record. They started slowly with draws against Georgia and Croatia before embarking on a five-game winning run that put them in a strong position to reach this tournament.

Star Players

Greece is warring on the health of midfielder Sotiros Ninis in front of Euro 2012. The 21-year-old, who saw little playing time at the 2010 World Cup, played a starring role for the Greeks until he damaged cruciate knee ligaments during the Euro 2012 qualifier against Israel.

While Greece did go on to reach this competition without him, the absence of Ninis would be a major blow to coach Fernando Santos’ plans. The Panathinaikos man is expected to return to action in late March and, if all goes well, that should give him enough time to build up fitness ahead of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

Greece Squad

Goalkeepers

1 Chalkias
12 Tzorvas
13 Sifakis

Defenders

2 Maniatis
3 Tzavelas
4 Malezas
5 Papadopoulos
8 Papadopoulos
15 Torosidis
19 Papastathopoulos

Midfielders

6 Makos
10 Karagounis
16 Fotakis
18 Ninis
20 Holebas
21 Katsouranis
23 Fetfatzidis

Forwards

7 Samaras
9 Liberopoulos
11 Mitroglou
14 Salpingidis
17 Gekas
22 Fortounis

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Russia Team



Russia take pleasure in a sprint to the semi-finals in the 2008 version of the European competition, but it will obtain some attempt from Dick Advocaat’s men to replicate that attainment in Poland and Ukraine. They have been drawn in Group A alongside Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic, and they are expected to progress from the group stage. However, their run may not last much longer after that.

How They Qualified

Russia draws closer out on pinnacle in their qualifying group after conquering an early hinder. Having opened with a win over Andorra, the Russians crashed to a home defeat at the hands of Slovakia. However, they responded in positive fashion with wins in the Republic of Ireland and Macedona before they claimed a point in Armenia.

Wins over Armenia and Macedonia followed before they were held to a goalless draw by the Irish in a match they dominated. But they closed out their qualifying campaign with wins over Slovakia and Andorra and that was enough to secure their automatic progression to Euro 2012.

Star Players

Tottenham ahead Roman Pavlyuchenko will grant Russia’s objective danger at Euro 2012. The 30-year-old rupture onto the global phase when he mesh three times throughout Euro 2008 and that alerted Spurs to the then-Spartak Moscow forward. Pavlyuchenko has since endured mixed fortunes in North London but his ability cannot be questioned. The striker netted four times during Russia’s qualifying campaign and is expected to lead the line when the tournament gets under way this summer.

Russia Squad

Goalkeepers

1 Akinfeev
13 Shunin
16 Malafeev

Defenders

2 Aniukov
3 Sharonov
4 Ignashevich
12 Berezutsky
19 Granat
21 Nababkin

Midfielders

5 Zhirkov
6 Shirokov
7 Denisov
8 Zyryanov
9 Izmailov
10 Arshavin
15 Kombarov
17 Dzagoev
22 Glushakov
23 Semshov

Forwards

11 Kerzhakov
14 Pavlyuchenko
18 Kokorin
20 Pogrebnyak

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Czech Republic Team



How They Qualified

The Czech Republic ended second in their qualifying group at the back World and European champ Spain, edging out Scotland through the last little furniture.

Things started badly with a defeat at home to Lithuania, but they bounced back quickly by beating a striker-less Scotland side before battling past Liechtenstein.

Star Players

Petr Cech and Tomas Rosicky, recognizable names to Premier League admirer, will be the means men for the Czech Republic. Chelsea goalkeeper Cech will still be haunted by a blunder that led to the Czech’s exit from Euro 2008, but it would be harsh if the 29-year-old was remembered mainly for that mistake.

Cech has routinely come to the aid of club and country with fine saves and he will be keen to shine in what may be one of his final appearances on a major international stage.

Czech Republic Squad

Goalkeepers

1 Cech
16 Lastuvka
23 Drobny

Defenders

2 Gebre Selassie
3 Kadlec
4 Suchy
5 Hubnik
6 Sivok
17 Hubschman

Midfielders

8 Limbersky
10 Rosicky
11 Petrzela
12 Rajtoral
13 Plasil
18 Kolar
19 Jiracek
22 Darida

Forwards

7 Necid
9 Rezek
14 Pilar
15 Baros
20 Pekhart
21 Lafata

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Netherlands Team



Having appeared just brief in South Africa, Holland should be hunting to arrive one more effectively at Euro 2012. The Dutch suffered a heart-breaking defeat to Spain in the final of the 2010 World Cup but showed no hangover as they romped through qualifying for this summer’s European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

They face a tough test in the group stage after being drawn alongside Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

How They Qualified

Holland done affordably their job of passing for Euro 2012, accumulating nine victories from 10 games, making merely loss emerging in the definitive group game soon after they had absolutely guaranteed themselves of a place in this competition.

They opened up with a 5-0 rout of San Marino before edging past both Finland and Moldova by one goal. They hit top speed as they put four past both Sweden and Hungary, and the Dutch continued their free-scoring ways by netting five in the second game against Hungary before hammering San Marino 11-0. Wins over.

Star Players

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder was one of the elite performers at the 2010 World Cup and he will again play a key role here.

Sneijder is the complete package and should provide plenty of opportunities for strikers Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie. The 27-year-old also has an eye for goal too, as he showed in South Africa, and that makes him all the more dangerous.

Netherlands Squad

Goalkeepers

1 Stekelenburg
12 Vorm
22 Krul

Defenders

2 Van Der Wiel
3 Heitinga
4 Mathijsen
5 Bouma
13 Vlaar
15 Willems
21 Boulahrouz

Midfielders

6 Van Bommel
8 De Jong
10 Sneijder
14 Schaars
17 Strootman
19 Narsingh
20 Afellay
23 Van der Vaart

Forwards

7 Kuyt
9 Huntelaar
11 Robben
16 van Persie
18 De Jong

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Denmark Team



Denmark were surprise champions of the European Championship reverse in 1992, but the probability of them make it past the cluster stage in Poland and Ukraine look thin. The Danes have been grouped with Germany, Holland and Portugal, but they will have taken some confidence from finishing above Portugal during qualifying for this competition.

How They Qualified

Denmark protected habitual qualification to Euro 2012 by concluding as shock winners of their cluster. The Danes were expected to finish second behind Portugal but instead capitalized on a slow start from the Portuguese – who took one point from their first two games – and never looked back.

Star Players

This might well be the competition in which Ajax youngster Christian Eriksen construct a name for himself, similar to Germany’s Mesut Ozil did at the 2010 World Cup. Eriksen, who will be 20 when the competition dig up under way in Poland and Ukraine, has turn out to be a regular appetizer for both club and country over the past 12 minutes, with many likening him to Danish legend Michael Laudrup.

Denmark Squad

Goalkeepers

1 Andersen
16 Lindegaard
22 Schmeichel

Defenders

3 Kjaer
4 Agger
6 Jacobsen
13 Wass

Midfielders

2 Poulsen
5 Poulsen
7 Kvist Jorgensen
8 Eriksen
9 Krohn-Delhi
12 Bjelland
14 Schone
15 Silberbauer
18 Okore
19 Poulsen
20 Kahlenberg
21 Zimling
23 Mikkelsen

Forwards

10 Rommedahl
11 Bendtner
17 Pedersen


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