Euro 2012 - Official Discussion Thread

[NVGonzalez]

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! 

I'll bring in my prediction

Group A
1. Russia
2. Poland
3. Greece
4. Czech Republic

Group B
1. Portugal
2. Germany
3. Netherlands
4. Denmark

Group C (this one took me time to think about
1. Italy
2. Spain
3. Ireland
4. Croatia

Group D
1. France
2. England
3. Ukraine
4. Sweden

QUARTERS
Germany def. Russia
England def. Italy (sorry Phil)
Portugal def. Russia
France def. Spain

SEMIS
Germany def. England
France def. Portugal

FINAL
Germany def. France

[NVGonzalez]

Spain gonna win it all.  That's all I gotta say.

I would agree if it weren't for injury problems. Villa and Puyol are out and after Villa unless Torres becomes his old self again (which is possible but we shall see if it keeps going) Spain doesn't really have the best forwards to supply their great midfield

[NVGonzalez]

Poland 1-1 Greece
Russia 1-0 Czech Republic

[NVGonzalez]

Shouldn't Russia be advancing with a better goal difference?

[NVGonzalez]

Shouldn't Russia be advancing with a better goal difference?

UEFA has silly/different rules than FIFA.

Ah I see. I did hear that they are now using the head-to-head match ups now then the goal difference. I was confused at first but I guess it helps add a thrill to the game

[NVGonzalez]

Oh btw I know I already have this as my new sig but...

[NVGonzalez]

That was an awful game of football. Hopefully tomorrow England can do what they've done so far and take Italy down a peg or two and play exciting football.

When a game has Balotelli in it of course it will be exciting.

[NVGonzalez]

Anyway, Italy was the better team according to the chances and statistics, so they earned it.

Que golazo!!!

Also England seems like they tried to go the Chelsea path. Sadly Buffon is 20 times better than Valdes. (I say this as a Barca fan too) I still stick with Germany winning the Euro but Italia was impressive.

[NVGonzalez]

Since Spain was already going to the Confederations Cup as the past World Cup champ I guess Italy will go to the confederations then right?