Wednesday 13 June 2012

So with less than a week gone, how are the “alleged” racist and violence statistics stacking up? Well before a ball was kicked, there were ‘monkey’ chants aimed at the Dutch during an open training session from some Polish ‘fans’. The Russians then grabbed the headlines when in the opening game against the Czech Republic, there were “allegations” of right-wing banners being displayed, ‘monkey’ chants directed towards Czech fullback Gebre Selassie and they completed their evenings work by beating up some stewards. Spain got on the scoreboard with a section of ‘fans’ racially abusing Italian forward Mario Balotelli. The players have tried to do their bit as well, as Italy striker Antonio Cassano says sorry for comments he made about homosexuals in a news conference on Tuesday. But you can’t keep the Russians down can you and yesterday they upped the anti by marching to the stadium on ‘Russia Day’ and running battles ensued with Polish ‘fans’ and the police. Impressive stuff from the Russians – can’t wait for the World Cup in 2018. Still think that was a good decision FIFA?

Group A

Greece (0) 1 – 2 (2)  Czech Republic

Well the Greeks showed once again a distinct dislike for the first-half of a game in these Championships. Having barely had time to take a first of coffee and get myself comfy on the sofa, the Czech Republic were two goals up. Just three minutes into the game, Tomas Hubschman threaded a ball directly through the middle of the Greece defence and Petr Jiracek scored, despite Chalkias in the Greek goal getting a hand to it. With only six minutes gone, Tomas Rosicky played the ball wide to Theodor Gebre Selassie on the right side of the area, who crossed for Pilar to bundle home despite the attention of two defenders. Replays showed that once again Chalkias in the Greek goal got a hand to it. The day got worse for the veteran keeper when he had be substituted on twenty three minutes after an injury. The substitute keeper Sifakis was soon in action when he saved well from a long-range effort from Rosicky. The Czech Republic had dominated the first-half, but got a break just before half-time when a Fotakis header was ruled out for offside, which replays suggested was the wrong decision. As with the game against Poland, Greece were much better in the second-half and were given a lifeline on fifty three minutes when Petr Cech fumbled a shot as he tangled with his own defender Tomas Sivok, allowing Gekas an easy goal. However, for all their possession the Greeks didn’t create any golden opportunities and the Czech Republic held on to win 2-1.

Poland (0) 1 – 1 (1)  Russia

Russia knew that a win against Poland would take them through to the Quarter-Finals. In the white hot atmosphere of the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland gave as good as they got and created some excellnet early opportunities. First up was a brilliant curling free-kick from Ludovic Obraniak which found the head of Sebastian Boenisch, but Russian keeper Malafeev’s reaction save kept it out. Then Lewandowski had a long range effort which drifted over and finally had an attempt from Polanski ruled out for offside. However, the Russians were always dangerous and on thirty seven minutes they struck. Arshavin swung in a free-kick and poor Polish marking allowed Dzagoev the chance to glance it in and give the Russians a 1-0 half-time lead. The second-half was a fantastically open affair with end-to-end action. From one of these breaks Poland scored one of the goals of the tournament as Blaszczykowski curled in an equaliser on fifty seven minutes. Malafeev made vital saves for Russia, whilst at the other end, their forwards sometimes over elaborated as chances were spurned. At ninety minutes the game was 1-1 and Poland had more than matched their neighbours.

Group A then goes to the final round of matches, with all four sides still able to qualify and the following permutations:

• Russia need at least a point from their final game against Greece to qualify;
• Russia will still qualify if they lose and the Czech Republic draw with Poland;
• If Russia lose and either Poland or Czech Republic win then Russia are out;
• Czech Rep need to defeat Poland to qualify;
• The Czechs can also qualify if they draw against Poland and Russia win or draw;
• Poland need to defeat Czech Rep to qualify;
• Greece will qualify if they defeat Russia.

My irritations of the Finals so far? Firstly the ‘10…9…8’ etc countdown to kickoff and secondly Jamie Carragher on ITV. Having watched the Liverpool player forget that he was a guest and not the host in interrogating Patrick Vieira after the France v England game, last night he constantly went on about his family. Who wants to hear about ‘Ar Sharon’…?

Saturday 09 June 2012 – Day 2

Yesterday saw the tournament get off to an entertaining and possibly unexpected bright start. However, some sections of the media were quick to point out that Group A was the weakest. Now whilst this may or may not be true, the fact is that both the games in Poland were for me as a neutral good to watch. Yes you can argue about the technical deficiencies, poor marking, bad judgement and the rest, but does it mean that the ‘better’ teams will provide even more accomplished viewing for fans? Well today there is a chance to assess that as Group B (seen as ‘the group of death’ by many) gets underway later, as the 1988 European Champions (the Netherlands) take on the 1992 winners (Denmark), followed by Die Mannschaft (otherwise known as the German ‘machine’) against Os Navegadores (‘the Navigators’ of Portugal). Perhaps the 2012 competition is destined to be open, full of goals and some surprises? I’m just an old cynic, but surely tonight these two games will be more cagey?

On Sunday, Group C begins as heavyweights Spain take on Italy at the PGE Arena in Gdansk and then later the Republic of Ireland start their campaign against Croatia in the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. Spain are the current European Champions having overcome Germany in the 2008 Final. Spain took part and qualified for the Finals in 1960, but refused to travel to the Soviet Union for their Quarter-Final due to a political dispute and so the Soviet Union were awarded a walkover victory. Four years later, Spain hosted the Finals and emerged victorious over the Soviet Union in Madrid. It was sixteen years before Spain made the Finals again (Italy 1980), but finished bottom of their Group with just a single point. In 1984 it was a much better performance from the Spaniards and after topping their Group, made it to the Final after a penalty shoot-out win over Denmark. However, the hosts France took the title 2-0 as Spain finished runners-up. In the 1988 and 2004 tournaments Spain did not make it past the Group stages, whilst in 1996 and 2000 exited at the Quarter-Finals to England and France, respectively. Spain have warmed up for this tournament with three wins, having beaten Serbia (2-0), South Korea (4-1) and China (1-0). Can they become the first country to win back-to-back titles?

Italy, despite having won the World Cup on four occasions, have surprisingly only been European Champions once, that being back in 1968 when they hosted the Finals. Indeed it would not be unfair to state that the Azzurri (The Blues) have underachieved in the European competition. Italy did not enter in 1960 and did not make it to the Finals in 1964. For the 1968 Finals, Italy came through a Group containing Romania, Switzerland and Cyprus, before beating Bulgaria over two-legs in the Quarter-Finals. In the Semi-Final against the Soviet Union, Italy emerged after winning the coin toss, after the game finished 0-0 after extra-time. Strange to think that this was the ruling before penalties! In the Final the game against Yugoslavia ended 1-1, but in the replay Italy emerged 2-0 winners. Having failed to qualify in 1972 and 1976, it was 1980 and back on home soil when the Italians next appeared in the Finals. They finished fourth after losing to Czechoslovakia in the Third/Fourth place play-off on penalties. In 1984 Italy failed to qualify for the Finals in France, but in 1988 made it to the Semi-Finals, going down 2-0 to the Soviet Union. 1992 took place in Sweden but Italy didn’t qualify. The Italians have qualified for all the tournaments since 1996 and came mighty close to taking the title in 2000. Leading 1-0 in the Final, France equalised deep into time added on with a goal from Sylvain Wiltord. The French comeback was completed when David Trezeguet netted to break Italians hearts and seal a 2-1 win for France. Coming into the 2012 tournament, Italy have lost their last two games, going down 1-0 to the USA and then 3-0 to Russia. Will this be another tournament of disappointment for Italy?

The Republic of Ireland have only previously qualified for the Finals on one occasion, back in 1988. The Irish started with a win against England and then a draw with the Soviet Union. Going into their last game against the Netherlands, a draw would have been enough to see Ireland through to the knock-out stages. The Dutch left it late, but a goal from Wim Kieft with eight minutes remaining shattered the Irish dream. In qualifying for the 2012 competition, the Republic of Ireland defeated Estonia 5-1 in the play-offs. In their final warm-up games, Ireland had a  1-0 home win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and then drew 0-0 in Hungary. Ireland are in a tough Group in 2012, but they will make it difficult for whoever they play and maybe, just maybe cause an upset.

Croatia emerged out of the split (sorry no pun intended) of Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s and since qualified for the Finals in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012. In England in 1996, Croatia finished second in their Group to Portugal, going out to Germany 2-1 in the Quarter-Finals. It was a less successful experience for the Croats in 2004, where two draw (against Switzerland and France) and defeat by England, meant they didn’t progress from the Group stages. In 2008, Croatia topped their Group with three wins (over Germany , Austria and Poland) but exited in a dramatic fashion against Turkey in the Semi-Finals. The match was 0-0 and in the last minute of extra-time when Ivan Klasnic scored what looked like a winner for Croatia. However, in time added-on Semih Senturk brought the Turks level and sent the game to penalties. Croatia stunned by this late goal, buckled under the pressure and missed three out of four penalties to crash out 3-1. Croatia had some revenge recently as they beat Turkey 3-0 on aggregate to qualify for this years competition. In their last two friendlies before the 2012 tournament, Croatia beat Estonia 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Norway. Personally I can’t see Croatia making much impression this time around and are can see then finishing bottom of the Group.

Friday 08 June 2012 – Day 1

Unfortunately before a ball is kicked, the first racist incident of the tournament has been reported, as a section of Poles attending a Netherlands open training session are heard making monkey chants at the black Dutch players. Presumably UEFA will be keen to play down the incident, whilst the Polish football authorities will simply ignore it. I maybe wrong and this might turn out to be an isolated incident, but let’s wait and see shall we…

Meanwhile on the pitch, the opening games took place in Group A:

Poland        (1) 1 – 1 (0)  Greece

The was a classic ‘game of two halves’. Roared on by a home crowd, Poland were dangerous from the start and having exposed the Greek defence on the right on a couple occasions, it was no surprise when the Poles took the lead. On seventeen minutes Jakub Blaszczykowski crossed and Robert Lewandowski headed in for the home team. His cause was helped by Greek keeper Chalkias who came for a cross he was never going to get. Poland looked in full flow and had a number of chances to increase their lead. The game looked over before half-time when Papaststhopoulos was sent off for two yellow card offences, neither of which were worthy of a booking and the Greeks went in at half-time fuming at the errors of Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo. However, it seemed to spur Greece on and substitute Salpingidis helped turn this game on its head. Suddenly the Greeks had energy and their equaliser on fifty minutes was deserved. Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis got behind the Polish back four and Wojciech Szczesny in goal for Poland never got near the cross and Salpingidis slotted home. Things got worse for Szczesny when on sixty eight minutes he was sent-off after bringing down the lively Salpingidis. However, Karagounis had his penalty saved by substitute keeper Przemyslaw Tyton. The Polish crowd that in the first-half had been lively and hostile became increasingly subdued as the second-half went on and by the final whistle were probably grateful that their team had got a point. It had been a lively opener to the competition, not the usual cagey game that often starts a major championship. Greece were probably happier by the end of ninety minutes, considering how thinks look at the end of the first-half.

Russia         (2) 4 – 1 (0)  Czech Republic

The second game in Group A was also slightly surprising, in how easily Russia overcame the Czech Republic. Admittedly, the Czech Republic were poor and if Russia had been more ruthless in front of goal, then the margin of defeat would have been greater. Kerzhakov was particularly wasteful in the second-half and paid for his profligacy when he was substituted on seventy three minutes. Dzagoev and Shirokov had given the Russians a 2-0 lead at half-time, but an early second-half Pilar goal brought the Czech Republic back into the game. However, Russia continued to look dangerous and goals on seventy nine minutes and eighty two minutes from Dzagoev and Pavlyuchenko sealed a convincing win. The Russians took the three points and an early lead of Group A.

Tomorrow Group B begins with the first game up between the Netherlands and Denmark (Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv), followed later by Germany against Portugal (Arena Lviv, Lviv). The Netherlands have emerged as one of the giants of European football in recent years with an impressive record at the European Championship Finals. The Dutch didn’t enter in 1960 and then didn’t qualify in 1964, 1968 and 1972. Their breakthrough came in 1976 when they finished third, overcoming Yugoslavia. 1980 saw the Netherlands unable to progress from the Group stages and in 1984 didn’t even make the Finals. However in West Germany in 1988, the Dutch became Champions, coming through as Group runners-up and upsetting the hosts 2-1 in the Semi-Final before securing the title with a 2-0 win over the Soviet Union. Four years later the Dutch couldn’t hang onto their crown as unfancied Denmark dumped them out on penalties in the Semi-Final. In 1996, penalties were once again to account for the Netherlands, as France advanced past them at the Quarter-Final stage. As co-hosts in 2000, the Dutch strode into the Semi-Finals to face Italy, but doing a fairly good impression of England, lost out on penalties again. In Portugal in 2004, the penalty horrors were overcome in a shoot out with Sweden in the Quarter-Finals, only to lose to hosts Portugal 2-1 in the Semi-Final. So to 2008 where have gone unbeaten in the Group stages, the Dutch lost out to Russia 3-1 (aet) in the Quarter-Finals. Qualification for 2012 was pretty comfortable, dropping just three points (a loss 3-2 to Sweden). The Dutch come into the tournament on the back of a 6-0 win over Northern Ireland. Expect the Orange machine to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the competition.

Despite not being perceived as one of the big names in European football, Denmark have a decent record in the Finals. In 1964 they lost in the Semi-Finals to the Soviet Union, but it was twenty years before they qualified again. In France the Danes reached the Semi-Finals once more, this time losing out to Spain on penalties. Four years later in West Germany it was an unhappy experience for Denmark as they lost all three Group games to rivals Italy, Spain and West Germany. Qualification for the event in 1992 looked to have passed the Danes by when they could only finish as runners-up to Yugoslavia. However, with civil unrest in that country, Denmark were called up to replace Yugoslavia. In an incredible twist of fate, the Danes went onto win the competition. They came through the Group stages after a draw with England, a loss to Sweden and victory over France. This set up a meeting with the Netherlands in the Semi-Finals. The Danes looked to be going through as they lead 2-1 with just four minutes remaining. However, Frank Rijkaard equalised for the Dutch and the game went to extra-time and eventually penalties. Denmark scored all five as Van Basten missed for the Dutch. In the Final, the Danes ignore the underdog tag and goals either side of half-time from Jensen and Vilfort, saw the Danes crowned as Champions. Despite qualifying for the Finals in 1996 and 2000, Denmark exited without getting out of the Group Stages. In 2004 the Danes made it to the Quarter-Finals only to be well beaten 3-0 by the Czech Republic. The Danes qualified for Euro 2012 by topping their Group, with Portugal as runners-up. In their last outing, the Danes overcame Australia 2-0, but could struggle in a group with the likes of Germany and the Netherlands. However, Euro 1992 showed that anything is possible.

Well what can you say about the Germans? In qualifying for Euro 2012, they won all ten fixtures winning the Group by thirteen points. Their record in the Finals is also as imperious, winning the European Championship on three occasions (1972. 1980 & 1996) and runners-up on three occasions (1976, 1992 & 2008). However, they can have their blips as in 2000 and 2004 the Germans didn’t qualify out of the Group Stages. This time around though the Germans look a force again and will be hunting that fourth crown.

Portugal made it to the 2012 Finals after a play-off victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-2 on aggregate. Portugal failed to qualify for any of the tournaments between 1960 and 1980 before getting to the Semi-Finals in 1984, losing 3-2 in extra-time to hosts France. There was a gap of twelve years before Portugal made the Finals again and at Euro 1996 made it to the Quarter-Finals where they lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic. Indeed Portugal have had reasonable success at the Finals since, reaching the Semi-Finals in 2000 (losing to France in extra-time), were runners-up to Greece in 2004 and in 2008 were knocked out in the Quarter-Finals by Germany.