Euro 2012 - Official Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

We are officially one week away from the biggest Football/Soccer/Calcio/Futbol/Fußball tournament of the year and we've exhausted the "Euro 2012 Qualifiers" thread so I think it's appropriate that we open the official discussion thread.

Please use this thread as a reference (see below for official links and the groups) and a place to discuss any news related to the tournament.

UEFA Euro 2012 - Poland-Ukraine

June 8 - July 1

Group A

Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic

Group B

The Netherlands
Denmark
Germany
Portugal

Group C

Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia

Group D

Ukraine
Sweden
France
England


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2012

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/index.html


Also, for fun, feel free to check out ESPN's Bracket Predictor! It would be cool to have a little Forum competition going. - http://games.espn.go.com/euro-bracket-predictor/en/



Let's have a great tournament! 

[Keystone Phil]

I might do a game-by-game prediction (because I'm sick like that) but, for now, here's a basic group breakdown (by points) and the knockout rounds.

Group A

Russia - 7
Czech Republic - 6
Greece - 2
Poland - 1

Group B

Germany - 7
The Netherlands - 7
Portugal - 3
Denmark - 0

Group C

Spain - 7
Italy - 7
Croatia - 1
Republic of Ireland - 1

Group D

France - 9
England - 4
Sweden - 3
Ukraine - 1



Quarter finals

Russia vs. The Netherlands
Germany vs. Czech Republic
Spain vs. England
France vs. Italy


Semi finals

The Netherlands vs. Spain
Germany vs. Italy



Final

Spain vs. Italy

[Keystone Phil]

Not the first bit of news I wanted to share but Prandelli claims he'd have no problem with Italy withdrawing from Euro 2012 over the betting scandal - http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/europe/story/euro-2012-prandelli-would-accept-italy-withdrawal-060112?m_n=true

What the hell is with this guy? He really irritates me at times.

[Keystone Phil]

Napoli's De Sanctis might get to see some action after all...

Then again, this really could be the perfect set up for a 2006 repeat.

[Keystone Phil]

Buffon apparently injured during today's Friendly. What a total disaster this is shaping up to be...

[Keystone Phil]

I like the way Lewis thinks (on one issue).

[Keystone Phil]

Croatia's Ivica Olic ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

[Keystone Phil]

Now Balotelli might be injured.

[Keystone Phil]

Poland beating the Dutch and the Spanish? Really?

[Keystone Phil]

Barzagli out for at least the group stage. Oh boy, when it rains, it pours...

[Keystone Phil]

Jas claims he's going to be objective...then gives the most ridiculous prediction. The Netherlands will be last? Italy, too? Ireland blows out all competition in the knockout rounds except in the Final, where they fail on penalties? Ok, you were clearly being sarcastic when you said "very objective."

I`m not a great supporter but I`m going with the red shirts. Try to guess if I am talking about Garibaldians, Chavistas or the defenders of the title. I´m terrible making predictions but I don´t feel very optimistic. Anyway we´ll reach the Semifinal.

Garibaldians? We wear blue or white, not red.

[Keystone Phil]

Stop it, Lief.

[Keystone Phil]

Garibaldians? We wear blue or white, not red.

The mention to Garibaldians was because Garibaldi`s supporters wore red shirts in the XIX Century. It was only a joke.

I figured but it would be a better joke if the Italians wore red on the pitch.

Welcome to the forum, by the way.

[Keystone Phil]

Stop it, Lief.

Italy's not making it out of the group stages, sorry Phil.

And Poland is not only winning their group but beating The Netherlands?

Right.

[Keystone Phil]

I wouldn't say the Czechs are horrible. Even still, Russia isn't losing the top spot to Poland.

[Keystone Phil]

The Onion has some fun at our expense - http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-people-talking-about-soccer-but-theres-no-w,28400

[Keystone Phil]

Now Prandelli says he doesn't know if Italy is good enough to win the tournament. Slight improvement from his idiotic "We won't win" comment a week or two ago.

He also added that he has "no objectives whatsoever. Qualifying was our objective."

[Keystone Phil]

Get those final predictions in, guys. Fourteen hours until kickoff!

[Keystone Phil]

Today's action:

Poland and Greece draw. Russia beats Czech Republic.

[Keystone Phil]

I have van Persie winning Top Goal Scorer, for the record.

[Keystone Phil]

First racial controversy: Black Dutch players are the target of monkey noises while the team was training in Krakow. UEFA claims it wasn't racially motivated; it was a "protest" over Krakow not being picked as a host city...which makes absolutely no sense to me.

[Keystone Phil]

Krakow not being picked as a host city... makes absolutely no sense to me.

This.

(But that would be a strange form of "protest" indeed.)

Just to clarify, I think it's strange that Krakow wasn't selected but what doesn't make sense is the idea of making monkey sounds to protest that decision.

[Keystone Phil]

Poland is already looking dangerous.

[Keystone Phil]

This ref apparently gave out sixteen red cards in nineteen La Liga games. Also, this could be some payback for 2004: the ref is a Spaniard and we know how Greece got out of their group in 2004...

[Keystone Phil]

Oh my God! Great opening game! Love this drama!