Over the last half decade or so the Spanish national side has unquestionably dominated international football, claiming the European Championships in 2008, before following it up with victory in the World Cup two years later. This level of domination is comparable to that achieved by France when they won the 1998 World Cup followed by the Euros, before the team went into a decline soon after. Spain are still the favourites to retain their European crown in Euro 2012, but will they be able to sustain the level of success they have achieved, or will they experience a slump similar to that which the French endured?
We proudly present the winner of football fans photo contest
First of all, I would like to inform that it was difficult choice and many photographs were really very good.
The winning shot was made by Per Vinther from Denmark during the first national match of South Sudan ever played the day after they got their Independence, July 9th. 2011.
Ukraine against England and France against Sweden. Those are the last two Euro 2012 group stage games.
France and England don't play only for qualifying to the next round but also for the first place in the group D. The runner-up will compete with championship defender Spain in quarter-final so second place for both England and France is not very optimistic.
Swedes are going home but they've promised that they wouldn't give up against France until the final whistle.
Wayne Rooney is coming back against Ukraine to English squad after two games suspension.
The last time Rooney scored in championship tournament was 8 years ago.
England play quite well without him so there are opinions that Rooney is similar to Raul in Spain and Ballack in Germany who were non-fulfilled in major tournaments.
Today's match between the championship defender Spain and Portugal in Donetsk inaugurates Euro 2012 Semi-final stage.
Both teams from Iberian Peninsula play beautiful football. Spanish thousand of quick passes style of play versus Portuguese Brazilian style.
The Spanish collective genius of an entire squad against individual brilliance of one man of the Portuguese.
Players know each other very well. Almost half of Portuguese team play in Spanish La Liga. Pepe and Ronaldo play for Real Madrid.
Spanish are favourites. Even if Ronaldo will be in excellent form I don't think Portugal could upset Spanish plans.
Spain's coach Del Bosque promises Spanish fans that they will be taking special care of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish key for success is midfield. Players like Iniesta, Alonso, Busquets, Silva and Fabregas can construct attack on every side.
The reasons why you should support live your National team during Euro 2012 in Ukraine
The constant flow of press information warn before visiting Ukraine. Problems with accommodation, long distances and political issues have negative impact on supporters.
But what about beautiful woman, hospitality and adventure. If you believed everything you'd read this pre-tournament, you'd be forgiven for having doubts about going to Ukraine during Euro 2012 European Football Championships.
Specially the Dutch, English, French and Swedes have fears of Ukraine. Their National teams play in Donetsk and Kharkiv on the Eastern Ukraine.
The Portuguese, Germans and Danes have nothing to worry about. Major of the games they are playing in Lvov, 80 km from Poland. This is the great place for tourists with lots of hotels and attractions.
However, if you have still doubts about staying in Ukraine you can stay in one of the Polish-Ukrainian border cities like Zamosc, Lublin, Rzeszow, Przemysl or Chelm. Two / three traveling hours from Lvov.
Maybe fans from Netherlands and England could have more reasonable doubts about accommodation standards because industrial Donetsk and Kharkiv aren't tourist destinations.
But I think they should try to contact with their embassy or national football association to help them find best accommodation.
One thing is certain, don't pay attention to politics boycotts and such a similar news. Football is beyond it and Euro 2012 would be one of the greatest European football championships ever.
We proudly present the winner of football fans photo contest.
First of all, I would like to inform that it was difficult choice and many photographs were really very good.
football fans photo contest
The winning shot was made by Per Vinther from Denmark during the first national match of South Sudan ever played the day after they got their Independence, July 9th. 2011.
This photo was chosen because of emotional picture of fans. Just take a look at their faces, colours painted on theirs bodies. This is the spirit of sport which joins people without class differences and material status.
Poland - Greece Euro 2012 preview
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.
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.
Russia coach Dick Advocaat based his squad on players who reach Euro 2008 semi-final after they beat Holland 3:1 in quarter-final. Those players are: Arshavin, Shirokov, Zhirkov, Semshov and Anyukov.
Both teams are very determined. Matches against Poland and Russia have always been very hot. There was a draw 2:2 during the last game between Poland and Russia in 2007.
Despite playing in Poland, Russians expect huge number of supporters visiting Poland during Euro 2012. Russian Football Federation established fan zones in Warsaw only for their supporters during Euro 2012 group stage phase. They organised accommodation and transport for Russians fans etc.
Russia manager Dick Advocaat has announced that he will leave Russian national team after the Euro 2012 European Football Championship.
Russia 23-men squad for Euro 2012:
Goalkeepers:
Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeev (Zenit St Petersburg),
Anton Shunin (Dynamo Moscow)
Defenders:
Aleksander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexey Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Vasily Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (Dynamo Moscow), Sergey Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Roman Sharanov (Rubin Kazan), Roman Shishkin (Lokomotiv Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala).
Midfielders:
Igor Denisov (Zenit St Petersburg),Denis Glushakov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Magomed Ozdoyev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Igor Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyrianov (Zenit St Petersburg).
Forwards:
Andrey Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Artem Dzyuba (Spartak Moscow), Marat Izmailov (Sporting Lisbon), Aleksander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Lokomotiv Moscow), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham).
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)
England coach Roy Hodson has expressed some concerns about injury crisis in England team for Euro 2012.
Without suspended Weyne Rooney until Ukraine match and Danny Welbeck, Glen Johnsonn, Jack Wilshere and John Ruddy, who are all injured, England could have troubles to defeat France in their Euro 2012 opener.
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are both likely to start in the central midfield roles. The attack is likely to be led by Liverpool inexperienced striker Andy Carroll.
If we’re talking about France we must remember that this is completely different team when Les Bleus had the likes of Zidane, Deschamps, Desailly, Henry and Blanc. But even without them if we take a look on French squad we can see Frank Ribery, Benzema, Nasri or emerging talent Marvin Martin.
Euro 2012 Football Championships will be the great opportunity for new young players from French Lige 1. They could bring some fresh new blood to French team. Olimpic Marseille injured striker Remy could be fit for match against England.
Franch coach Lorent Blanc believes that, England will be a tough opponent. Blanc claims that he knows England's coach 4-4-2 tactic well and he doesn’t think England will be big surprise for Euro 2012.
One thing for certain is that this match hasn't got absolute favourite and it's very possible it could end with a draw.
France squad for Euro 2012:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux).
Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyon), Mapou Yanga Mbiwa (Montpellier).
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Alou Diarra (Olympique Marseille), Yann Mvila (Stade Rennes), Yoann Gourcuff (Olympique Lyon), Marvin Martin (Sochaux), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St Germain).
Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Jeremy Menez (Paris St Germain), Loic Remy (Olympique Marseille), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique Marseille).
England squad for Euro 2012:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man. City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)
Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man. United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man. City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)
Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man. City)
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Man. United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
Every Euro 2012 host city in Poland and Ukraine has its own special fan zone where people beside watching games will have opportunities to take part in numerous concerts, competitions and games.
The largest Euro 2012 fan zone is situated in Warsaw with a capacity of over 100 000 people. It's located near the Palace of Culture and Science, at the Warsaw's centre.
The official opening of the fan zone will take place on June 7. Entrance for all fan zones will be for free without some exceptions like Pitbull concert in Gdansk.
Events calendar in Warsaw's Euro 2012 fan zone:
- Afromental (June 8, 2012),
- Milo Curtis (June 8, 2012),
- T-Love (June 12, 2012),
- Poparzeni Kawa Trzy (June 12, 2012),
- Blenders (June 16, 2012),
- Eney (June 21, 2012),
- Bracia (June 21, 2012),
- Zakopower (June 23, 2012),
- Lady Pank (June 28, 2012),
- Kayah (July 1, 2012).
Events calendar in Gdansk's Euro 2012 fan zone :
- Pitbull (June 7, 2012),
- Noel Gallagher, The Vaccines, Ziemianie (June 20, 2012),
- ATB - André Tanneberger - niemiecki DJ, Josh Gallahan and DJ Motiv8 DJ of Black Eyed Peas (June 25, 2012),
Events calendar in Wroclaw's Euro 2012 fan zone:
- Margaret, Eney and Arash (June 7, 2012),
- LUC – Czech and Russian accents (June 8, 2012),
- Ewa Farnej concert (June 16, 2012).
Events calendar in Poznan's Euro 2012 fan zone:
- MEZO with a crew fight (June 8, 2012),
- Kumka Olik (June 9, 2012).
- Skowronki (June 10, 2012).
- Wilki (June 10, 2012).
- Malgorzata Ostrowska (June 12, 2012).
- Audiofeels (June 13, 2012).
- Poznan Entertainment Orchestra ft. Slawek Uniatowski and Kasia K8 Roscinska
(June 14, 2012).
- Carrantuohill, Celtica (June 15, 2012) - Irish Day.
- Strachy na Lachy (June 16, 2012)
- Maja Koman i Ko Ko Mani (June 16, 2012).
- Raz Dwa Trzy (June 17, 2012).
- First Poznan non symphonic Orchestra Ukulele (June 18, 2012).
- Hellow Dog (June 18, 2012).
- Sokol i Marysia Starosta (June 20, 2012).
- Eldo (June 20, 2012).
- donGURALesko (June 0, 2012). Hip Hop
- 52 Debiec (June 20, 2012). Strefa Hip Hop
- Indios Bravos (June 21, 2012).
- Ray Wilson (Genesis vs. Stiltskin) (June 23, 2012).
- Defected In The House presents: Copyright (June 23, 2012).
- Electric Guitars (June 24, 2012).
- Hurt (June 5, 2012). Rock Pure Pleasure
- Voltage Betty (June 25, 2012). Rock Pure Pleasure
- Coma (June 25, 2012). Rock Pure Pleasure
- The Ploy (June 26, 2012). Poznań Alternative Energy
- Die Antwoord (June 26, 2012). Poznań Alternative Energy
- Gaba Kulka, (June 6, 2012). Poznań Alternative Energy
- Alphaville (June 29, 2012).
- De Mono (July 1, 2012).
- Ewa Jach (July 1, 2012).
