Euro 2012: Round 3 round up

On the 16th of June, group A was decided with shock results all round. Kick-off times were simultaneous to avoid teams playing out results that would be beneficial for both sides. The Russians had impressed in their first two games and they took on the Greeks while the Czech’s took on Poland.

 

It seemed likely that the Greek side would reflect their country and crash out of the Euros. However, in added time of the first half, up stepped Giorgos Karagounis who, scoring the only goal of the game, gave Hellas something to be proud about. The Russians bombed out of the tournament, surprising fans and pundits alike.

In the other game of the day, the Czech Republic took on one of the host nations, Poland. Both had played reasonably well up until this point and could be fairly confident of going through to the knock-out stages. Home support was optimistic but Petr Jiracek broke Polish hearts: cue Pole axed headlines.

 

Many had Poland and Russia to top the group but in the end, 2004 champions Greece and the Czech Republic are going through to take on the first and second placed teams in group B. Surely Greece cannot repeat their shock victory of eight years ago?

 

Group B had Portugal against the Netherlands and Denmark taking on Germany. Every team had a chance to go through including the Dutch, who had not taken a point from their first two matches.

 

The Danes looked to add to their country’s already impressive European history but realistically they had their work cut out against a Germany side who boast the likes of Ozil, Gomez, Muller and Lahm among many, many others.

 

Joachim Low’s men took the lead in the 19th minute through Arsenal’s new star, Lukas Podolski. Almost immediately the Danes struck back through Michael Krohn-Deli and hope was revived. The German’s ruthlessness was shown, 10 minutes from the end of time, when Lars Bender won the game making it 1-2.

 

The Netherlands looked to make significant improvements when they took on the Portuguese and only a win would do. Once again, however, they failed to shine and despite boasting some of the best attackers in the world, it was Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the show.

 

Often criticised for not performing for his nation, Ronaldo took the bull by the horns and scored a brace to send his nation through to the quarter finals. Despite the Netherlands drawing level, after Cristiano’s opener, they never really showed the form many had hoped for.

 

So group B ended with Germany topping the group and Portugal coming three points behind in second place. That means the Czech Republic will take on the Portuguese and Germany will play Greece in Gdansk, Poland.

 

Group C had Croatia facing off against Spain, who destroyed Ireland in the last match, and the Italians needing to match Spain’s Euro thrash. Already on the plane home, the Irish were playing to restore some pride.

 

Despite a strong Croatian resistance Spain eventually delivered scoring two minutes from the end of time through Jesus Nevas, who came on as a substitute. Croatia had every chance to go through; needing just a goal before Nevas’ strike.

 

Ireland once again succumbed to defeat, this time 2-0, as the Italians went through to the knock-out stage. Antonio Cassano broke the deadlock on 35 minutes; Damien Duff not quite reacting quickly enough to prevent the ball crossing the line. Mario Balotelli made sure of the victory in the final minute of normal time, just after Keith Andrews was sent off for a second bookable offence.

 

Group C finished with the two favourites going through: Spain top, Italy second. Ireland will probably be disappointed with the way they limped through the tournament but Spain showed real intent to defend their title, particularly in their match versus the Irish.

 

All that was left to be decided was group D which saw England take on one of the hosts, Ukraine and France face Sweden. With England and France favourites to go through, but both looking vulnerable at times, there was everything to play for.

 

England had talisman Wayne Rooney return to the side and it was the Three Lion’s number 10 who scored the first, heading in from close range. Both sides had chances with Ukraine looking to have a ball cross the line but the goal was not given by the referee. England topped the group while the disappointed Ukrainians were dismissed.

 

Sweden provided a shock result against group favourites France winning 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium. After 54 minutes had passed, the imperious Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a brilliant volley to put the Swedes ahead. In extra time Seb Larsson secured the win but the French still went through, second in the group.

 

The Euros once again delivered top class football and shocks all round. A tantalizing set of quarter-finals awaits with England facing Italy and Spain looking to knock out the French.

 

Sam Murray

 

Euro 2012: Round 1 round up

 

Euro 2012 opened with an exciting round of fixtures and it’s fair share of controversy. The referee took center stage in the opening game as hosts Poland took on Greece and both sides finished the match with ten men. The game ended 1-1 with Lewandowki’s opener cancelled out by Salpingidis’s 51^st minute leveler.

 

Later on in Wroclaw, Russia took the bull by the horns, winning 4-1 against the Czech Republic, and showed the superb technical football that now typifies the team. Arshavin frustrated Arsenal fans by demonstrating the form that he promised on so many occasions.

 

The shock of the round came in Kharkiv and was provided by the great Danes who conquered the Dutch. The Oranje captain, Marc van Bommel was described as speechless after the 1-0 defeat. In an extremely competitive group a defeat such as this may prove costly.

 

In the same group, the German’s overcame a stubborn Portuguese side, again 1-0, thanks to a technically brilliant header from Mario Gomez. The German goal acted as a release for Cristiano Ronaldo’s side but they could not find the back of the net as they succumbed to a defeat in their opening fixture.

 

Defending champions Spain began their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Italy. Substitute Di Natale opened the scoring on 61 minutes only for Cesc Fabregas to score the equalizer 3 minutes later.

 

In group C, lady luck abandoned the Irish as they were punished by Croatia. Mario Mandžukić beat Given twice and Evertonian, Nikica Jelavić, grabbed the other. St Ledger provided brief hope, scoring on the 19^th minute, but, unfortunately, it was not to be for the men in green.

 

England and France opened group D with a tentative match; neither team seemed prepared to risk a loss. The Three Lions opened the scoring with Joleon Lescott heading in from close range. His club teammate, Samir Nasri, scored with a low, placed shot past a stretching Joe Hart.

 

To finish off the first round of fixtures co-hosts Ukraine took on Sweden. Two striking legends of the modern game squared off against each other in the fabulous forms of Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ukraine’s Andriy Shevchenko.

 

Both scored but it was the homegrown hero, Shevchenko, that stole the headlines. Zlatan struck first but Andriy scored two in seven minutes to send Ukraine top of group D.

 

After eight games Russia has been the nation to really impress. Scoring four against the Croatians and dominating a vast majority of their opener has shown they are a team to take seriously.

 

Unfortunately let down by some poor fan behavior, the Russian Football Union has called on the fans to behave themselves in their next fixture against Poland on June 12.

 

It is Holland who really need to step up; luckily their next game is against Germany. Possibly one of the most eagerly anticipated games in international football, the Dutch really have a chance to redeem themselves.

 

Sam Murray