Poland, Ukraine Get Top Draws at 2012 Euro

By John Nestor

Kiev, Ukraine

The stage is set for the 2012 Euro Cup following Friday's draw that saw host Poland and Ukraine getting the top draws while Spain placed in a tougher group.

For the first time in the tournament's history, Poland and Ukraine - former parts of the Soviet Union - will be hosting the Euro Cup.

Being the hosts for the event, Poland and Ukraine got the top seeds over the field of soccer superpowers, including England, Italy, Germany, and reigning World Cup and Euro champion Spain.

Poland, aiming to qualify beyond the first round of the event, was drawn in Group A along with Greece, Russia, and Czech Republic.

Debuting for the European Football Champion is Ukraine, which was placed in Group D along with Sweden, France, and England.

Meanwhile, Spain is bracketed in a tough Group C along with perennial power Italy, resurging Ireland, and regular World Cup participant Croatia.

The Netherlands, which lost to Spain in the 2010 World Cup, was placed in Group B along with Cup third-placed Germany, Denmark, and Portugal.

England Coach Fabio Capello considers the upcoming Euro Cup as a perfect test for teams for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The 2012 Euro Cup will be kicking from June 8 to July 1 with games taking place in several sites across Poland and England.

The Championship game will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on July 1.

Group A

Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic

Group B

Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal

Group C

Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Croatia

Group D

Ukraine, Sweden, France, England

Euro 2012 Match schedule

All kick-offs CET, Ukrainian time is one hour ahead

Friday 8 June 2012

#1: POL v GRE, 18.00CET, Warsaw

#2: RUS v CZE, 20.45CET, Wroclaw

Saturday 9 June 2012

#3: NED v DEN, 18.00CET, Kharkiv

#4: GER v POR, 20.45CET, Lviv

Sunday 10 June 2012

#5: ESP v ITA, 18.00CET, Gdansk

#6: IRL v CRO, 20.45CET, Poznan

Monday 11 June 2012

#7: FRA v ENG, 18.00CET, Donetsk

#8: UKR v SWE, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Tuesday 12 June 2012

#9: GRE v CZE, 18.00CET, Wroclaw

#10: POL v RUS, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Wednesday 13 June 2012

#11: DEN v POR, 18.00CET, Lviv

#12: NED v GER, 20.45CET, Kharkiv

Thursday 14 June 2012

#13: ITA v CRO, 18.00CET, Poznan

#14: ESP v IRL, 20.45CET, Gdansk

Friday 15 June 2012

#15: SWE v ENG, 20.45CET, Kyiv

#16: UKR v FRA, 18.00CET, Donetsk

Saturday 16 June 2012

#17: CZE v POL, 20.45CET, Wroclaw

#18: GRE v RUS, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Sunday 17 June 2012

#19: POR v NED, 20.45CET, Kharkiv

#20: DEN v GER, 20.45CET, Lviv

Monday 18 June 2012

#21: CRO v ESP, 20.45CET, Gdansk

#22: ITA v IRL, 20.45CET, Poznan

Tuesday 19 June 2012

#23: ENG v UKR, 20.45CET, Donetsk

#24: SWE v FRA, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Wednesday 20 June 2012
No matches

Thursday 21 June 2012

#25: 1A v 2B, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Friday 22 June 2012

#26: 1B v 2A, 20.45CET, Gdansk

Saturday 23 June 2012

#27: 1C v 2D, 20.45CET, Donetsk

Sunday 24 June 2012

#28: 1D v 2C, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Monday 25 June 2012
No matches

Tuesday 26 June 2012
No matches

Wednesday 27 June 2012

#29: W#25 v W#27, 20.45CET, Donetsk

Thursday 28 June 2012

#30: W#26 v W#28, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Friday 29 June 2012
No matches

Saturday 30 June 2012
No matches

Sunday 1 July 2012

#31: W#29 v W#30, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Euro 2012 Group Stage Results

Date	Group	Team	Result	Team	Venue	Start
Fri June 8th	A	Poland	1 - 1	Greece	Warsaw	5:00pm
Fri June 8th	A	Russia	4 - 1	Czech Rep	Wroclaw	7:45pm
Sat June 9th	B	Holland	0 - 1	Denmark	Kharkiv	5:00pm
Sat June 9th	B	Germany	1 - 0	Portugal	Lviv	7:45pm
Sun June 10th	C	Spain	1 - 1	Italy	Gdansk	5:00pm
Sun June 10th	C	Republic of Ireland	1 - 3	Croatia	Poznan	7:45pm
Mon June 11th	D	France	1 - 1	England	Donetsk	5:00pm
Mon June 11th	D	Ukraine	2 - 1	Sweden	Kiev	7:45pm
Tue June 12th	A	Greece	1 - 2	Czech Rep	Wroclaw	5:00pm
Tue June 12th	A	Poland	1 - 1	Russia	Warsaw	7:45pm
Wed June 13th	B	Denmark	2 - 3	Portugal	Lviv	5:00pm
Wed June 13th	B	Holland	1 - 2	Germany	Kharkiv	7:45pm
Thu June 14th	C	Italy	1 - 1	Croatia	Poznan	5:00pm
Thu June 14th	C	Spain	4 - 0	Rep of Ireland	Gdansk	7:45pm
Fri June 15th	D	Sweden	2 - 3	England	Kiev	5:00pm
Fri June 15th	D	Ukraine	0 - 2	France	Donetsk	7:45pm
Sat June 16th	A	Czech Rep	1 - 0	Poland	Wroclaw	7:45pm
Sat June 16th	A	Greece	1 - 0	Russia	Warsaw	7:45pm
Sun June 17th	B	Portugal	2 - 1	Holland	Kharkiv	7:45pm
Sun June 17th	B	Denmark	1 - 2	Germany	Lviv	7:45pm
Mon June 18th	C	Croatia	0 - 1	Spain	Gdansk	7:45pm
Mon June 18th	C	Italy	2 - 0	Ireland	Poznan	7:45pm
Tue June 19th	D	England	1 - 0	Ukraine	Donetsk	7:45pm
Tue June 19th	D	Sweden	2 - 0	France	Kiev	7:45pm

Euro 2012 Quarterfinal Results

Date	Group	Team	Result	Team	Venue	Start
Italy Advances on Penalty Kicks 4 - 2
Thu June 21st	QF 1	Czech Republic	0 - 1	Portugal	Warsaw	7:45pm
Fri June 22nd	QF 2	Germany	4 - 2	Greece	Gdansk	7:45pm
Sat June 23rd	QF 3	Spain	2 - 0	France	Donetsk	7:45pm
Sun June 24th	QF 4	England	0 (2) - 0 (4)	Italy	Kiev	7:45pm

Euro 2012 Semifinal Results

Date	Group	Team	Result	Team	Venue	Start
Spain Advances on Penalty Kicks 4 - 2
Wed June 27th	SF 1	Portugal	0 (2) - 0 (4)	Spain	Donetsk	7:45pm
Thu June 28th	SF 2	Germany	1 - 2	Italy	Warsaw	7:45pm

Euro 2012 Final Result

Date	Group	Team	Result	Team	Venue	Start
Sunday July 1st	Final	Spain	4 - 0	Italy	Kiev	7:45pm

Euro 2012 Soccer - Poland, Ukraine Get Top Draws at 2012 Euro