UEFA 2012 European Championship: Day 3

Sunday 10 June 2012

The Ukraine got its first games underway on Saturday in Group B and with it the first shock of the tournament. 

Netherlands                   (0) 0 – 1 (1)  Denmark

Prior to kick-off in Kharkiv, the BBC showed a feature about the Danes unexpected triumph at Euro 1992. Surely history doesn’t repeat itself? Well, for the first twenty minutes, the Netherlands looked at ease stroking the ball around as Robben, Van Persie and Afellay all had chances for the Dutch. Then completely against the run of play, Denmark attacked down the left, the move looked to have broken down, but a ricochet saw the ball fall to Krohn-Delhi who cut inside a less than tight Dutch back four to fire through the legs of keeper Stekelenburg and give the Danes the lead on twenty three minutes. The Dutch continued to attack and create chance after chance, but a combination of good goal-keeping from Andersen, dogged defence and a bit of luck – Robben hitting the post, meant Denmark went in at half-time with a 1-0 lead. The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first as the Dutch dominated and created numerous chances, even a double substitution with the introduction of Huntelaar and Van der Vaart with just under twenty minutes remaining couldn’t change the fortunes of the Netherlands. The Dutch knew their luck was out when late on a good shout for handball in the area was turned down. Should the ‘new’ goal-line officials have seen it? Well if they didn’t, what is their role? In a season when we have seen teams dominate possession and chances but not win (like the Barcelona v Chelsea Champions League games), here was another example. The stats told us that the Netherlands has 29 attempts on goal, but only six on target, the Danes had 8 efforts on goal with 4 on target. The most important figure of course was the final score-line and now Group B has become a real dog-fight.

Germany              (0) 1 – 0 (0)  Portugal

In Lviv, Germany emerged winners over Portugal. Germany created their best chances in the first-half when getting down the flanks with Gomez the main German threat. However, Pepe had an excellent chance for Portugal when his shot hit the bar before bouncing down on the goal-line. Germany just shaded the first-half, but the teams went in at 0-0 at the break. The deadlock was broken on seventy two minutes when a cross from Sami Khedira was headed in by Gomez, who had lost his marker Pepe. Portugal did respond with Nani clipping the crossbar with a cross-come-shot and Neuer making good saves from Ronaldo and substitute Varela late-on. However, Germany held on for the win and now look forward to Wednesday and the game against bitter rivals in the form of the Dutch.

Tomorrow the last of the first round of games comes to an end as Group D begins. In the opening game France take on England, with Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine later. The French have been European Champions on two occasions, the first on home soil in 1984 when beating Spain and in 2000 when overcoming Italy 2-1 in dramatic fashion. However, apart from that their record is very mixed. France did not qualify for any tournaments between 1964 and 1980 as well as 1988. In 1992 and 2008 Les Bleus did not make it out of the Group stage. In 1996 France did make the Semi-Finals but lost out 6-5 to the Czech Republic. 2004 saw France fall to Champions elect Greece 1-0 in the Quarter-Finals. More recently, France have quietly and confidently been going about their football business and racked up friendly wins in 2012 against Germany, Iceland, Serbia and Estonia. They could be the dark horses of the competition.

England…well yes, we know we haven’t won anything since 1966 and yes we blow it on penalties more often that not. So unsurprisingly our European Championship record is to be blunt, very poor. In 1960 England didn’t enter and didn’t qualify for 1964. In 1968 England qualified for the Finals after the results of the 1967 and 1968 Home Internationals series were combined and saw them through a point ahead of Scotland. In the Semi-Final against Yugoslavia England lost 1-0, but finished third in the tournament after beating the Soviet Union 2-0. In 1972 and 1976 England failed to qualify for the Finals but did make it to Italy for Euro 1980. However, a draw with Belgium, a loss to Italy and a win over Spain were not enough to see the Three Lions progress. 1984 passed England by, but England made it to Germany in 1988 and probably wished they hadn’t as they lost all three Group games (against the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and the Soviet Union) to finish rock bottom. 1992 in Sweden was again another tournament to forget. England drew their opening two games 0-0 (against Denmark and France) and could have qualified for the knock-out phase if they had beaten Sweden. David Platt gave England an early lead and they lead 1-0 at half-time, however two second-half goals send the hosts through and left England bottom of their group for a second successive tournament. 1996 is well documented and we fell to those old foes Germany and penalties in the Semi-Finals. In 2000 England self-destructed in spectacular fashion on two occasions. Firstly, in the opening Group game against Portugal, England had a 2-0 lead after eighteen minutes, which by fifty nine minutes had turned into a 3-2 deficit. Secondly, in the final Group game needing only a point to progress, with the score at 2-2 in the last minute, Phil Neville needlessly conceded a penalty and Romania scored to progress at England’s expense. In Portugal four years later, England came through their Group and faced the hosts in the Quarter-Finals. In a see-saw game that ended 2-2, England once again blew it on penalties 6-5. 2008 and England didn’t qualify after the calamitous defeat at Wembley to Croatia in their last qualification game. Who knows what to expect in 2012? As Roy Hodgson rather wonderfully put it, it will be the “…most terrific or torrid three weeks…” of his career.

Sweden’s involvement in the European Championships only really starts from 1992. In 1960, the Swedes did not enter, and between 1964 and 1988 didn’t qualify for the Finals. As hosts in 1992, Sweden drew with France, before victories over Denmark and Sweden took them through to a Semi-Final against Germany. The Swedes were always behind in the game and eventually bowed out 3-2. The Blagult (The Blue-Yellow) didn’t make it to England in 1996, but have qualified for all the tournaments since. At Euro 2000, Sweden finished bottom of their Group with just a point from a 0-0 draw with Turkey. Four years later in Portugal, the Swedes topped the Group where the first three all finished on five points, but their superior goal difference took them through, courtesy of a 5-0 win over Bulgaria. In the Quarter-Finals, Sweden exited to the Netherlands 5-4 on penalties. In 2008 an opening Group win over Greece was their only joy as successive losses to Spain and Russia meant no further progress for Sweden. Qualification for Euro 2012 was achieved as best runners-up after collecting 24 points just behind Group winners the Dutch. Sweden won every home qualifier including a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands. However away defeats in Hungary and the Dutch meant the Swedes missed out on top spot. Coming into this competition, Sweden beat Serbia and Iceland in friendly internationals. The Swedes will be awkward customers and will make things difficult for Ukraine in the opening game.

Co-hosts Ukraine only come into existence in 1992 (after the Soviet Union break-up) and have not qualified for any European Championships to date. They of course will be urged on by their home fans in these Finals, but as Poland found in their opening game, the weight of expectation can have a paralysing effect. Indeed, Sweden are the type of team who could indeed ruin the Ukrainian party. It could be some start to the week!

Category: UEFA 2012 Euro Championship | LEAVE A COMMENT

UEFA 2012 European Championship: Day 2

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.

Category: UEFA 2012 Euro Championship | LEAVE A COMMENT

UEFA European 2012 Championship: Day 1

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.

Category: UEFA 2012 Euro Championship | Comments Off on UEFA European 2012 Championship: Day 1

Orange Africa Cup of Nations – Reflection

Tuesday 14 February 2012

A chance now to reflect on the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations, which for me will be remembered as the tournament of the ‘underdog’. A competition where the favourites, Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast, one-by-one fell by the wayside as teams such as Equatorial Guinea, Mali and eventual champions Zambia emerged from the shadows.

I’m a firm believer in that there is nothing like ‘being there’ to fully sample the atmosphere, to feel and witness events. One day I hope to get the opportunity to sample something of the Africa Cup of Nations. For now though I can only try and appreciate and observe through the various forms of media. The things that I am left with after this tournament (clichéd or not) include the vibrancy, colour and enthusiasm of the crowds, the goal celebrations (individual to every nation), a competition that was not at all predictable, some brilliant attacking play – balanced by some pretty poor defensive work and goalkeeping mistakes and of course Zambia emerging as winners in a twist of football fate.

However, there will be issues that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will no doubt be looking at when they come to review the tournament. Amongst those is the attendances for the competition. Very few games were sold out and some crowds were embarrassingly low, such as (eventual winners) Zambia’s Quarter-Final fixture against Sudan which was officially recorded by CAF as being 200. As with any tournament, the vital questions to ask will be around the pricing of tickets, availability and distribution, as well as the interest of the ‘home’ fans in wanting to watch other countries play. It was reported that CAF was aware of the issue and did offer free tickets and transport to some games. However, I’m not sure how successful this was. I am not in anyway being critical of CAF, because I can quite clearly remember Euro ’96 in England, where sell-outs were the exception rather than the rule. Given that in 2013 the competition is in South Africa where the smallest stadium capacity is likely to be 41,000 (assuming the 2010 World Cup stadiums are used), then ticketing and attendances is a major topic for discussion.

They say that football is the same the world over, but anyone watching this tournament will know that this is not the case. Here in England we are force-fed a diet of Premier League, Champions League and La Liga, and the viewer is presented with what is touted as the ‘cream of football, the best in world’. In many ways though it is a very sanitised version of football. A game were increasingly any sort of physical contact and tackling is gradually being outlawed. There were at time some very crude challenges through the Africa Cup of Nations, but that is no surprise in an event of thirty two games. Referees seemed more lenient when dealing with the incidents and generally players just got on with it – simply part of the game. Would we see the same reaction in the Premier League? So was there a greater honesty in the Africa Cup of Nations?

I have been critical of some of the defending and goalkeeping (although both Kennedy Mweene and Boubacar Barry in the Final were excellent), in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, but is it unfair to compare the European game with that of Africa? The FIFA rankings can be argued over all day long about their validity or otherwise, but it is interesting to do a couple of comparisons using them. Firstly, of the 16 qualifiers for Poland & Ukraine, 13 of them are in the top 25 in the World. Only Ivory Coast from the Africa Cup of Nations feature in the top 25. Secondly, if you take the FIFA rankings of the 16 teams that played in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and get an average, you get a figure of 75. Doing the same with those that have qualified for the UEFA European Championships, that average figure is 18. That is a difference of 57 places, which (whatever your view on the rankings), is a gulf in standards and therefore should be reflected in expectations about what we see as a spectator. Taking those figures and applying to the rankings it would see fixtures featuring Canada or China (both ranked equal 74th by FIFA) playing Ivory Coast (ranked 18th by FIFA) or Georgia (76) against Bosnia (19). It will be intriguing to compare the two tournaments once the 2012 UEFA European Champions are crowned later this year.

As with all major tournaments there are various awards handed out after the Final. For 2012 the following were presented (information from the Confederation of African Football [CAF] website)

Team of the tournament:

Goalkeeper: Kennedy Mweene (Zambia)

Defence: Jean-Jacques Gosso(Ivory Coast), Stophira Sunzu (Zambia), John Mensah (Ghana), Adama Tamboura (Mali).

Midfield: Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast), Gervinho(Ivory Coast), Seydou Keita (Mali).

Forwards: Christopher Katongo (Zambia), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Substitutes:

Boubacar Barry (Ivory Coast), Rui (Equatorial Guinea),Youssef Msakni (Tunisia), Manucho (Angola), Eric Mouloungui (Gabon), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Sadio Diallo (Guinea), Cheick Diabaté (Mali), Houssine Kharja (Morocco), Mudather El Tahir (Sudan), Rainford Kalaba (Zambia), Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana).

Player of the tournament:  Christopher Katongo (Zambia)

Fair Play award:  Ivory Coast

Top scorers (all with three goals): Manucho (Angola), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon),  Cheick Diabaté (Mali),  Houssine Kharja (Morocco), Christopher Katongo (Zambia), Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia).

Finally, it will not be a two year wait until the next ‘fix’ of the Africa Cup of Nations as it will take place in South Africa next year in 2013. CAF decided that it wanted future tournaments to take place in the ‘odd’ years in order to avoid occurring in the ‘even’ years with the UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups. If the 2013 event is half as dramatic as 2012, it will be worth watching. Goodbye Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, thanks for the memories.

Category: 2012 Africa Cup of Nations | LEAVE A COMMENT

UEFA 2012 European Championship Finals – The Draw

Friday 02 December 2011 (08.45 am)

Later today the draw for the UEFA 2012 European Championship Finals takes place in Kiev. Sixteen teams will be drawn into four Groups from four seeded pots. Each Group will be made up of a team from each Pot. From Pot 1 Poland have already been drawn in Group A and Ukraine in Group D for logistical reasons. This leaves Netherlands and Spain from Pot 1. Pot 2 contains England, Germany, Italy and Russia. Pot 3 consists of Croatia, Greece, Portugal and Sweden, with Pot 4 made up of the Czech Republic, Denmark, France and Republic of Ireland.

This morning the various forms of media will be highlighting the best and worst case draws that England could finds themselves with. For instance the BBC see the best case scenario as being drawn with Poland, Greece and Czech Republic with the worst case scenario would see England in with Spain, Portugal and France. To me it makes no real difference, as if you are going to win a tournament you have to play and beat the best teams irrespective of what stage you play them at.

Rest assured though that Signor Capello has already got his excuses in early as he has been banging on about how tired the players will be since the 2-2 draw with Switzerland back in June this year. However, for now the tournament is 6 months away, but tonight the pressure will be cranked up slightly as The Three Lions will know who they will be facing come June 2012.

Friday 02 December 2011 (7.00 pm)

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.

 

Well it could have been worse and to use that football cliché, ‘on paper’ we should qualify, but this is England we are talking about! The Group featuring Sweden, France and Ukraine will bring back memories of Euro ’92 when England were also paired with the Swedes (who were the host nation), the French and the Danes. England under Graham Taylor finished bottom of the Group, with 0-0 draws with both Denmark and France and then a 2-1 defeat to Sweden. England with a team including Tony Daley, Andy Sinton and Carlton Palmer went ahead in the fourth minute through a David Platt goal. However, strikes from Eriksson and Tomas Brolin, ensured the hosts progressed and condemned The Three Lions to an early plane home.

England has also further tournament experience with the French. At Euro 2004 in Portugal, England opened their Group campaign against France. Three points seemed in the bag as on 90 minutes, as England was leading with a first half Frank Lampard goal. However, Zinedine Zidane had other ideas and scored twice on 91 and 93 minutes to snatch victory…sacré bleu!

So history certainly isn’t on England’s side. For now, lets just park it for 6 months. Que sera sera….

Category: Football Features, UEFA 2012 Euro Championship | LEAVE A COMMENT