Poland hosts Greece in the Euro 2012 tournament opener June 8, 2012.
Playing at home is usually a fortress for any team trying to break down the walls. Specially when you play against host of European Football Championship. But who have a better chance that the Greeks? The Greece who have won Euro 2004 opening game against Portuguese in Portugal and later Championship title and the whole tournament.
Greeks qualified to Euro 2012 tournament from the first place after they beat 8th Fifa ranking Croatia in group stage phase. But with their key man Sotiris Ninis sidelined they aren't so strong.
On one side, Polish team will be supported by several dozens of fans during Euro 2012 opening game what can act as the clichéd 12th man. On the other hand huge expectations and pressure on Polish players could have negative impact for them. Simply, it could be beyond players reach.
Euro 2012 host Poland qualify automatic to Euro 2012 tournament without playing qualifications and they have not played a competitive match since 2009.
Compare betting odds:
Polish team's based on players playing in European Leagues like Borussia Dortmund trio Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek, Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny
Poland squad for Euro 2012:
Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal Londyn), Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal Londyn), Przemysław Tyton (PSV Eindhoven)
Defenders: Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund), Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia Warszawa), Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (Lech Poznan), Sebastian Boenisch (Werder Brema). Marcin Kaminski (Lech Poznan), Damien Perquis (FC Sochoux), Kamil Glik (Torino), Tomasz Jodlowiec (Polonia Warszawa)
Midfielders:
Dariusz Dudka (Auxerre), Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan), Eugen Polanski (Mainz), Ludovic Obraniak (Girondins Bordeaux), Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund), Lukasz Mierzejewski (Trabzonspor). Maciej Rybus (Terek Grozny). Kamil Grosicki (Sivasspor), Adam Matuszczyk (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Rafał Wolski (Legia Warszawa)
Forwards:
Robert Lewandowski (Borusia Dortmund), Artur Sobiech (Hannover 96), Paweł Brozek (Celtic Glasgow), Michal Kucharczyk (Legia Warszawa)
Greece squad for Euro 2012:
Goalkeepers:
Dionisis Chiotis (APOEL), Alexandros Tzorvas (Palermo)
Defenders:
Vangelis Moras (Cesena), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Schalke), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Werder Bremen), Giorgos Tzavelas (Monaco).
Midfielders:
Panagiotis Kone (Bologna), Athanasios Petsos (Kaiserslautern), Alexandos Tziolis (Monaco), Kostas Fortounis (Kaiserslautern)
Forwards:
Theofanis Gekas (Samsunspor), Georgios Samaras (Celtic)
As one of the Euro 2012 hosts, Poland will be supported by several-dozens of fans. But Russians are much more better-ranked according to actual football rankings.
