The Euro 2012 Lowdown

Having fallen of the wagon a bit when it comes to posting I return to you with a post on the news regarding Euro 2012. With the draw of the groups occurring  last friday, football fans can now salivated or dread...over matches to come.

First Adidas has released the ball that will be match ball for the entire tournament. Introducing the Adidas Tango 12:

Check the video

A throwback to the ball used in the 1978 Euro Championships, reemerging two years later in the Euro's held in Italy and then again in the 1984 version of the tournament in Spain.

Here are the groups:

 

     Group A                    Group B             Group C        Group D
      Poland                        Netherlands           Spain            Ukraine
      Greece                        Denmark                Italy             Sweden
       Russia                        Germany              Ireland           France
   Czech Republic             Portugal               Croatia           England

If you want the Match Schedule hit the link.

I will be making my predictions on who will progress through the groups and up to the final as we get closer to the start of the tournament.

Rooney to miss 3 games in Euro's due to silly red card

In last weeks post on Wayne Rooney's silly acquisition of a red card in England's final qualifying match with Montenegro,  I was unsure of the final punishment that would result in the the strikers childish play. Coming out today it is confirmed that Rooney will miss the first THREE! matches in the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.


This puts England manager Fabio Capello in a precarious position on whether to even bring him at all. The England Football Association has written to UEFA, in hopes of minimizing the ban but it's a minimum three game ban for dangerous play. Watch the video below of Wazza chopping Miodrag Dzudovic, and tell me if this punishment is a warranted one?

Euro 2012 Playoff Draw

Play-off drawTurkey v Croatia
Estonia v Republic of Ireland
Czech Republic v Montenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Portugal

First legs: 11/12 November
Second legs: 15 November

Play-off recordsBosnia and Herzegovina – P1 L1
Croatia – P2 W2
Czech Republic – P2 W1 L1
Estonia – N/A
Montenegro – N/A
Portugal – P1 W1
Republic of Ireland – P5 W1 L4
Turkey – P4 W3 L1

Already qualified

Co-hosts: Poland and Ukraine
Group winners: Spain (holders), Germany, Russia, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Greece, England, and Denmark
Best runners-up: Sweden

Final tournament draw: 2 December in Kyiv, 18.00CET (20.00 local time)
Final tournament: 8 June–1 July
Final tournament venues: Gdansk, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw (Poland); Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Lviv (Ukraine)

Images of Euro 2012 Qualifiers on the road to Poland & Ukraine

More pics after the Jump....Including Adrian "8-ball" Mutu.

Euro 2012 has the the crop of already Qualified teams for the tournament that kicks of this summer in Poland and Ukraine. The host countries are joined so far by the likes of  Group A winner Germany on 27 points, looking possible final contenders. Italy secured their ticket to the tournament winning Group C, as did the Netherlands and Spain winning each of their groups E and I. Pictured above, England battled one out against Montenegro yesterday Oct. 7 which saw them clinch the one pointed needed to win group G.

For a full look at the tables push this button (here).


Thanks to Who Ate All The Pies.

Wayne Rooney sent off in qualifier with Montenegro

Breaking News!!!

Wayne Rooney has been sent off in England's crucial Euro qualifier with Montenegro. This happens after the troubles faced by him and his family during the week where evidence has emerged of their involvement in a betting scandal, seeing his father and close relatives arrested. 

England is currently level 2-2 with the Montenegrins, and if they secure the qualification securing point, Wayne will miss the first game in this summers tournament.