Euro 2012

[Jim05]

Villa broke his leg a while back and I don't think he has played a game since.

Not a great start for the Dutch in the group of death.

The clog wearers did everything except stick the ball in the back of the net, utter domination with shots on goal being 28-8 and dominating possession.
RVP putting on his usual rubbish performance on the big stage

[pels]

Villa broke his leg a while back and I don't think he has played a game since.

Not a great start for the Dutch in the group of death.

The clog wearers did everything except stick the ball in the back of the net, utter domination with shots on goal being 28-8 and dominating possession.
RVP putting on his usual rubbish performance on the big stage

Didn't the Dutch dominate and RVP missed a couple of sitters

[pels]

Italy & Spain finish 1-1, fair result and both teams would be happy with the draw

[Jim05]

Villa broke his leg a while back and I don't think he has played a game since.

Not a great start for the Dutch in the group of death.

The clog wearers did everything except stick the ball in the back of the net, utter domination with shots on goal being 28-8 and dominating possession.
RVP putting on his usual rubbish performance on the big stage

Didn't the Dutch dominate and RVP missed a couple of sitters

Thats exactly what I said, RVP was poor

[Jim05]

Ireland 1-3 Croatia
Croats way too strong against a very average Irish side

[Il Duce]

Group D - The final group and it contains two former world cup winners, the other host nation and a team who love to course upsets this group like group c will have a lot to offer. In this group positions 2 to 4 I feel will be decided by a point or goal difference.

France - The World Cup 2010 was a disaster for the French it ended with an investigation in which a lot of players where banned for a lot of matches and Raymond Domenech losing his job. Laurent Blanc then took control and after an ironing out period have gone on an 18 game unbeaten run. Players like Malouda, Evra, Ribery and Benzema looking to write the wrong of the World Cup and players like Cabaye, Nasri, Ben Arfa, Koscienly and Clichy looking to make a name on the international stage France look like they will go far in the tournament and I can see them making the semi finals.

England - They couldn't be coming into the tournament in almost a worse shape. Players not wanting to be in the squad as they feel are too good to sit on the bench for their country. Players not being selected for tactical reason even though they should be. Players not being selected because of harmony to team and to top it all off injuries just before the tournament has made this the weakest group in memory. However players like Hart, Cole, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Gerrard, Young, Parker, Walcott, Caroll and Rooney (when he is back from suspension) will have to preform under Roy Hodgson's 4-4-1-1 and if they can hold shape and stay disciplined then a normal quarter final exit on penalties should be achievable.

Ukraine - The other host nation country and the team with the most home based players in it as only two play outside of the Ukraine they being Tymoshchuk and Voronin the will be wanting the home crowd to push them though the tournament. The Ukraine will be looking to the experience players of Tymoshchuk, Voronin, Nazarenko, Husyev and Shevchenko to lead the way for the Ukraine. They will need the support of the home team and if it comes down to the final game of the group and they need a result I can see them getting one as I feel the players will lift for the crowd. Like I said earlier positions 2-4 wont be much separating them but if all goes as expected I can see them missing out only just though.

Sweden - They as much as the other 2 teams I can see finishing 2-4 will have a good chance of going though. They seem to have England's number and have enough good quality players mixed in with enough work man like players they can certainly get results...oh yeah they have the man model Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic playing at his best is almost what is needed for Sweden and his failure to preform in big games is not normally the case for Sweden. It is not all about Zlatan (contrary to Zlatans belief) and Sweden will be looking at players like Isaksson, Mellberg, Larsson, Svensson, Kallstrom and Elmander to help progress in this tournament. They could course an upset in a game but I think they will just fall short.

[Jim05]

France 1-1 England, the Frogs dominated for the majority of the match but the Poms had their chances. French led the shot count 19-3 including a staggering 15-1 on target.
Currently 1-1 between Ukrain and Sweden after 54min.
Ibrahimovic opened the scoring early in the second half but Shevchenko with the quick reply

[Jim05]

Shevchenko scores a double, Ukraine lead 2-1 in the 61st.
3 goals in 10 minutes and the crowd is going bunta

[Jim05]

Ukraine 2-1 Sweden
The Swedes had 2 good chances in the last 2 minutes of the match

[Jim05]

Greece 1-2 Czech Rep. Czechs scores twice in opening 6 minutes
Poland 1-1 Russia
Russia 4pts, GD +3
Czech Rep 3pts, -2
Poland 2pts, 0
Greece 1pt, -1
All to play for in last group matches, Russkies in box seat only requiring a draw to go through

[Jim05]

Group B
Denmark 2-3 Portugal, Cracking game, the Portuguese led 2-0 but a Bendtner scored a double to tie things up. The Portuguese scored the winner in the 87th minute.
Netherlands 1-2 Germany, Krauts too good, would have to be close to favourites on that performance. Once again the Dutch disappointed.

Germany 6pts, +2
Portugal 3pts, 0
Denmark 3pts, 0
Netherlands 0pts, -2
Dutch must beat Portugal in last game and hope the Danes dont get a point against the Krauts if they are to progress.

[Jim05]

Group C
Italy 1-1 Croatia, felt Italy dominated the vast majority of the match but couldnt land the killer blow. Croatia equalised late after a rare Italian error.
Spain 4-0 Ireland, Irish simply not in the same class and were given a real lesson, probably lucky it wasnt a 5 or 6 goal loss.

Spain 4pts, +4
Croatia 4pts, +2
Italy 2pts, 0
Ireland 0pts, -6
Ireland are the first side eliminated from the competion.
Italy must beat Ireland in the last game to have any chance of progression, a narrow Italian win and a draw in the other game could still see the Italians miss out

[Bully]

Melberg scores twice, Sweden 2-1 up over england, walcott just came on

half hour to go

[Bully]

foul on mellberg

brilliant save by the swedish keeper

[Bully]

Walcott scores

2-2 all 25 mins to go

[Bully]

Lustig on for sweden

[Bully]

still 2-2. 20 mins to go

[Bully]

brilliant football by both sides, great tackles

[Bully]

shot by carrol, missed. (stay with headers carrol) ....

[Bully]

WTF, clear out by lescott and should have been a corner for sweden, the ref was closer to the ball then hart when it went out, and missed it ?????