Euro '12

[ChiefSalsa]

I have received great responses to the previous major soccer tournament threads. I am sure this one will be as good.

Here is the official page for the tournament:

UEFA EURO ? UEFA.com

This tournament is rife with controversy. The ongoing claims of racism in the host nations of Poland and Ukraine. The continuing soap opera that is the English and French teams. And the Italian match fixing scandal, which has police officials pulling Italian players off the practice fields and into custody. There are plenty of back stories.

Here is my preview of the four groups. I put them in order that I believe they will finish. The top two in each group advance. In the knockout rounds, the A1/B2 winner plays the C1/D2 winner in the first semi. The B1/A2 winner plays the D1/C2 winner in the other semi.



GROUP A

RUSSIA The Russkies has the right combination of an incredibly weak group, confidence, a burgeoning league and their top players in peak form. A legitmate championship dark horse contender.

POLAND Dismissed by many as a throw away in a terribly weak group, if the Poles can muscle out an opening match win against the Greeks, they can make it into the 2nd round. If Robert Lewandowski finds the net, they are better than the bookmakers say.

GREECE The New Jersey Devils of international soccer. Boring but effective. If they eek out a 1-0 win over Poland, expect two scoreless ties in the next two matches that will snooze them into the 2nd round.

CZECH REPUBLIC The future is bright. But the future is not now. Still, they tend to play well when underestimated.



GROUP B

GERMANY In the unquestioned Group of Death, the Deutchlanders will field as solid a team as they have in 20 years. In my opinion, a huge favorite to win it all.

HOLLAND The Clockwork Oranje are deep, in peak form and have an unsettled score with critics (like me) who pasted them for their ugly play in South Africa two years ago. A strong chance to make the Final.

PORTUGAL The sun is setting on the Portugese glory days. They can still pull off an upset and get through to the 2nd round. But, bad days are ahead for this team that should have won a major tournament in the past decade.

DENMARK My dark horse before the draw is now a bottom feeder facing three teams with superior talent and pedigree. Ingen bøn.


GROUP C

SPAIN Given that they have beaten the other two favorites to win the last two major tournaments, Espana would be a likely dead cinch lock to win this year. However, the cracks are showing on this superteam. They can (and will) be gotten in the semis.

ITALY Whenever the Azzurri are wrapped up in controversy, like the current match fixing scandal, they drop the Prima Donna attitude and play strong, unified soccer. Far from a championship contender, the boys in blue may have some very black days (including FIFA sanctions) ahead of them.

IRELAND Coach Giovanni Trapattoni (nicknamed Trap O' Tony) has put together a solid team mixed with vets and youngsters. If they beat the Croats, they are in a great position to get past the Italians on June 18th.

CROATIA Like the Czechs, they seem to thrive when no one talks about them. Win or lose, they still have the best sports uniform on the planet.


GROUP D

SWEDEN In the most eclectic group in the tournament, the Swedes are back to their old reliably solid and devastatingly boring brand of soccer. Uninspiring, but enough to win this group.

FRANCE The circus that has been French soccer in recent years has left town, for now. Les Blues are back to playing a strong team game and scaring the crap out everyone. Look to them as a favorite for Brazil in 2014.

ENGLAND Few things in sports are as magical as the English fans singing God Save the Queen before a match. It is spine tingling. The Three Lions have too many problems. Rooney misses two games. The John Terry racism thing is not good. Frank Lampard's injury is a critical blow. And they flat out just aren't very talented.

UKRAINE Not devoid of talent, tho co-hosts can take advantage of the other three teams intangibles. My guess is they will be lucky to sneak out a lone tie.



So, who will win?

With Germany and the Dutch placed on seperate sides in the knockout round, I look for one of them to get revenge on the Spaniards in the one semi, and the other to beat an upstart, sleep-inducing Swedish side in the other semi.

And in the Final, the Deutch will beat the Dutch.


First matches are Friday. Let's enjoy this.

[johnnie]

Oranje for the win! Dave got me hooked watching the Dutch last Euro.

[dcss1205]

Selected games will be shown a the Ukrainian League, 23rd & Brown Streets, 19130. Ukrainian League Calendar of Events Membership is required to purchase alcohol.

BEGINNING FRIDAY JUNE 08, 2012, the CLUB at the UKRAINIAN LEAGUE WILL BE OPEN at 11:45am for certain first round matches of EURO CUP 2012.
All games of EURO 2012 will be shown LIVE on our big SCREEN TV’s.

First round games will be shown at 12:00 noon and at 02:45 (14:45). Replays will be shown in the EVENING, per the schedule.

YKPAIHU first round games are on Monday June 11 at 02:45 (14:45) vs Sweden; The second match is on Friday June 15 at 02:45 (14:45) vs France, and the third game of the first round is on Tuesday June 19, 2012 at 02:45 (14:45) vs England. Come out and support “3bIPHY”

Make the Ukrainian League your headquarters for EURO CUP 2012
Viewing details are subject to change, and Europe will change them.

[ndebergerac]

The 2010 World Cup was such a disappointing bore fest, I'm finding it difficult to get pumped up for this one, hopefully it'll be a vast improvement.

My breakdown.

Group A.
RUSSIA - Probably the group favorites. Once again they bring a very talented team to a major tournament, even if they under perform (again) they should still have enough to come through.

POLAND - One of the weaker teams in the tournament, home-field advantage might be enough to see them through. A solid unit, that may be able to pull off a surprise run, especially given the group they were gifted.

GREECE - Dare I say no hopers? Yes. The group is open though, maybe they'll sneak through with 3 0-0 draws. That's as far as they go.

CZECH REP. - Not as good as previous Czech teams, the older players have gone, the new players aren't the finished article. Still, they have every chance of competing with Greece and Poland.

Group B
GERMANY - Many peoples favorites to win (myself included). No obvious weaknesses, great young talent in attack.

HOLLAND - Some great flair players, subdued at the World Cup due to negative tactics. Still, whether they entertain or not, they are a championship threat.

PORTUGAL - Some peoples dark horse. Despite having Ronaldo in the squad, they are getting very little hype from the press, perhaps because Ronnie has never been at his best for Portugal in tournaments. Tough group for them, but definitely talented. If either the Dutch or Germans start slowly, Portugal may progress.

DENMARK - Good, under-rated, side, would likely do well if the replaced any team in Group A. In this group, they'll do well to win a point.

Group C.
SPAIN - World class from back to front. However, they have lost Puyol and Villa to injury, and many suggest they are too predictable. Should qualify with relative ease though.

ITALY - A mere shadow of their former selves, not fit to tie the laces of their 2006 World Champion counterparts. Still, always technically solid and defensively sound. Might bore their way through to the knockout stages and beyond.

IRELAND - Don't rate them highly, but they will prove awkward opposition for anyone. Could be a surprise team, I don't see it though.

CROATIA - Just lost Olic to injury, but this is a very talented team, yet no one is talking about them. My dark horse, they'll make the semi finals.

Group D
SWEDEN - Chief rates them highly, I'm not so sure. That said, they are a solid unit and have Ibra as a game changer. Could go through if others in the group don't show up (as some expect).

FRANCE - Very talented group as always, too many egos as always. Everyone expects them to self destruct once again. If they show up, they have the ability to win the group and go far, if they bring their baggage, it'll be a short stay.

ENGLAND - Low expectations for a change. Not playing well, new manager, Rooney and Lampard suspended and injured. Good strong team, but not much in the way of world class talent, a very uninspiring team in recent years.

UKRAINE - Don't know much about them. Home-field advantage and, like Poland, avoided the big guns. Dunno, maybe they'll qualify?


If I remember correctly, myself and Chief both predicted a Spain v Holland World Cup Final, with Spain to triumph. We agree again, Germany v Holland, Germans to win.

[ChiefSalsa]

If I remember correctly, myself and Chief both predicted a Spain v Holland World Cup Final, with Spain to triumph. We agree again, Germany v Holland, Germans to win.

Half right. I had the Oranje winning.

Very nice break dow, nd.

I like the Swedes to win Group D because the French are not 100% back and the English simply have too much missing. Sweden never excited a single person ever. Doubt they will this year---but they are a good team.

Ibra is a goal scorer; and Kim Kallstrom is read to have a break out moment from the midfield. They are the definition of 'solid, not sexy'.

[Brian616]

Very excited for this- Euro 2008 was what sold me on being a soccer fan. And, being that the only downside to that tourney was that the English soap opera was missing, I have very high expectations for this go-around.

[ndebergerac]

DVR is set for the first 2 rounds of games. Glad I don't work Monday, England v France is one game that really has my curiosity piquing. May be the opener of their group, but both teams may need the morale boosting win if they are to progress. Interestingly enough, England have just risen to 6th in the World Rankings, theoretically making them Europe's 4th strongest side, France sit at 14th, 10th for Europe.(Scotland 41st in the world, I'll take it!)

[ChiefSalsa]

The ref for the opening match will be Carlos Velasco Carballo of Spain. Interesting choice. He does not have many big match calls outside of the Spanish league.

The notorious Howard Webb will ref the Russia-Czech match. The over-under on blown calls is 4 1/2.

[ChiefSalsa]

Rank them yourself, ho has the best kits in this year's Euro:


Who has the nicest Euro 2012 kit? | World of Sport - Yahoo! Sport UK


NOTE: I am fairly sure that big ugly 3 on the Irish kit is a promotional shirt. It will not be on the shirts worn on the field.

[ndebergerac]

Carballo's biggest European tie to date would appear to be the 2011 Europa League Final, though I'm sure he's handled Champions League games in his time also. Limelight will certainly be on him, the opening games tend to set the trend as to what will be accaptable and what will merit yellow and red cards.

Howard Webb is certainly and authoritve referee that demands respect from player, but when he blows a call it tends to be of the game changing variety in high stakes, high pressure matches.

Scotland's own Craig Thomson will be there. Generally a pretty good ref, a few blown calls like any other throughout his career. Don't remember him refereeeing any genuine big matches before, Rangers v Celtic domestic games probably his peak, little experience with world class players or top level international football.

England's Jermaine Defoe has flown home after the death of his father, but is due to return at a later date. He was unlikely to start v France, but he's a great option from the bench with his pace and direct approach.

I'm a fan of the classic adidas look from Greece, Germany and Spain.

[ChiefSalsa]

The Germans went back to green for their second shirt. I am not a fan of the dark blue the English will wear against Sweden.

[ndebergerac]

I don't mind the England navy. Worst kit goes to Croatia, that checkered pattern has never worked. Poland, Italy, Czech and Sweden have some crappy designs too.

[ChiefSalsa]

I don't mind the England navy. Worst kit goes to Croatia, that checkered pattern has never worked.

YOU SMOKE CRACK! The best uniform by any team anywhere on Earth!

You lost major soccer cred with me on that one.

[ndebergerac]

YOU SMOKE CRACK! The best uniform by any team anywhere on Earth!

You lost major soccer cred with me on that one.

Hard to argue street cred when you continue to call it "soccer"

[ChiefSalsa]

I'm American. I do what I want.

I am torn on the US kit. They do look like Waldo shirts. But, they are so ugly that I am endeared to them.

[ndebergerac]

Don't like any of the recent US kits, that diagonal stripe is horrible. Not a fan of the hoops either, it's something a little different which I'm all for in a sport that often makes very subtle changes to jerseys every year, but I'd rather have seen something in solid red with white/blue trims, maybe something similar in style to the Netherlands, both their jerseys are pretty good for Nike designs.

Anyone miss the Mexican goalie that designed his own in the 90's? Campos was it? That guys was rad.

[ChiefSalsa]

Damn fine goalie jersey!

I am going to give my predicition now as tomorrow morning I have radio stuff to do.


I see the Poles and Greeks trying to be more entertaining early on. Poland will try to go over the top on set plays. The Greeks, likewise, will look for that one set play just outside the box that nets a rebound goal.

I see Robert Lewandowski catching a set piece floater and heading in the only goal. Poland 1-0.


In the 2nd game, Russia will live up to expectations and take the tempo to 2nd gear. Scoring early, the Russians will wait out the thin Czech attack and add a 2nd goal on a counterattack. 2-0 for the Russians.

[johnnie]

Wesley Sneijder will have a free kick to make you wet your pants. Book it.

[dcss1205]

The EURO2012 broadcast schedule at the Ukrainian League, 23rd & Brown Sts is posted at Ukrainian League Calendar of Events
These are the first run games at noon & 2:45 EDT, rebroadcasts as available in the evening.
Quarter, Semi and The Final Live from Kiev, will be show later in the month. Stay tuned.



The Ukrainian League of Philadelphia is an organization of Ukrainian American citizens who have bonded together to form a group for the fostering and nurturing of the Ukrainian culture and heritage while still respecting and honoring the American culture and its freedoms.

The League consists of several types of members which are: Honorary, Active or Social.

The League sponsors functions such as:
- Holding a Christmas bazaar each December serving the local Ukrainians in the neighborhood with traditional food, crafts, and entertainment
- Working jointly with the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee to load containers with donations to send to Ukraine
- Subsidizing housing for emigrated Ukrainians so they may have a safe place to live among the Ukrainian community
- Lastly but not limited to offering support to other Ukrainian organizations by donating time from its' members and or space for their meetings and gatherings

[ndebergerac]

Damn fine goalie jersey!

I am going to give my predicition now as tomorrow morning I have radio stuff to do.


I see the Poles and Greeks trying to be more entertaining early on. Poland will try to go over the top on set plays. The Greeks, likewise, will look for that one set play just outside the box that nets a rebound goal.

I see Robert Lewandowski catching a set piece floater and heading in the only goal. Poland 1-0.


In the 2nd game, Russia will live up to expectations and take the tempo to 2nd gear. Scoring early, the Russians will wait out the thin Czech attack and add a 2nd goal on a counterattack. 2-0 for the Russians.

Pretty good predictions, can't argue with that.